Imagine a barefoot child wading through the waist-deep water while clutching a broken and wet school bag can scare us. This picture isn't a picture from a war zone or from history it is today's Pakistan affected by floods.
Every year it is the same story. The rainy season starts, river banks overflow, and entire cities are rundown by water. Families are displaced and homeless, crops are destroyed and destruction is everywhere. Yet we still watch and wait patiently for the next disaster to attack so we can then begin working towards it.
This year floods have been particularly disastrous especially in parts of Sindh and Balochistan because they are closer to the Arabian Sea. Entire towns have been submerged, hundreds of lives lost and thousands of people displaced. The flood also exposed us humans to two harsh realities: natural; being Pakistan facing the consequences of the increase in global warming which has turned normal rain into a disaster. The second is man-made which includes measures and preparations to save ourselves from these natural disasters. The second part is a bit more concerning because we have failed to prepare for floods despite knowing their frequency and intensity and emergency evacuation for the safety of people.
Last year, floods affected one-third of the country affecting 33 billion people and causing massive damage worth billions of rupees. The international community referred to it as a climate catastrophe and Pakistan became a country paying for a crisis it didn't cause.
As we look back at the devastation we should ask ourselves why we always are unprepared for a crisis that we know always comes in monsoon season.
This year also the rains came and once again the embankments broke, riverbanks overflowed and houses collapsed, crops were destroyed and wildlife on the farms drowned.
The south side of Sindh and Balochistan including the rural areas where people work as farmers and small-scale laborers. For these people floods are not just natural disasters, they are an endless cycle of loss, poverty, and helplessness.
We can no longer afford to treat floods as a seasonal inconvenience. They are a national crisis that demands urgent action
The science behind this natural disaster is very simple. Global warming is causing the glaciers to melt in the north, adding more water to the rivers, unpredictable monsoons intensify the river bank allowing it to overflow leading to intense flooding in the plains. A major reason for increased global warming is the use of carbon emissions released from factories. Poor urban planning blocks natural waterways turning heavy rains into a disaster, deforestation leads to soil erosion and flash floods, and inadequate drainage systems in Karachi and Lahore make the situation worse. In these cities, the drainage systems are outdated and poorly maintained.
Yet instead of preparing for them, we wait and watch and once the disaster occurs then we panic and cry for help. We blame nature while ignoring the negligence that leaves thousands of people vulnerable. Billions of dollars are spent on emergency relief, while little investment is made in flood management and infrastructure.
What happened to the flood protection plans that were announced last year? What happened to the promises of building strong embankments, installing better drainage systems, and setting up warning alarms? All these questions revolve in our minds but still, we do nothing and just go on with our daily lives.
In contrast to this, countries like the Netherlands have a better system in order to save the country from natural disasters. They have effective drainage systems flood management systems and warning alarms set throughout the country to inform them and protect them.
If they can do this then why can't Pakistan do the same?
The story of a flood victim from Dadu in Sindh will leave us in shock. His rice fields which were supposed to provide food and income for the year are now six feet under water. His cattle were displaced and the family lost everything in the flood. “Where will we go now?" said the man in a shaking voice. He also said that "it's not the rain that scares us, it's what happens after. Disease, hunger, and no one to help us rebuild."
His words reflect a reality we choose to ignore: floods are not just the water. They bring about diseases like cholera, and malaria, ruin crops, and leave people dispersed and shelterless. Relief camps provide temporary refuge, but what happens after the camps are closed or they run out of stock? Where do these families go to seek help?
This is the story of countless families who have been victims of floods. Their suffering doesn't stop once the rain finishes and the floods stop, it continues to linger on for months, and yet they are often left unheard and unseen.
We can no longer afford to treat floods as a seasonal inconvenience. They are a national crisis that demands urgent action. The government must prioritise flood mitigation infrastructure—strengthening dams, rebuilding embankments, and ensuring better drainage systems in both rural and urban areas. Early warning systems need to be modernised to save lives before disaster strikes.
At the same time, we need policies that address climate change at its roots. Reforestation projects must be launched in vulnerable areas, and urban planning must account for natural waterways. International aid and climate reparations are critical, but real change will come from within.
As citizens, we must also play our role. Water conservation, tree planting, and holding authorities accountable are small but meaningful steps that can protect our future.
This isn't just a rural problem or a seasonal inconvenience. It's a national crisis. We cannot let floods wash away lives year after year, while we sit idle. It's time to stand with those who suffer and demand accountability and action before the waters rise again.