Responding to and Curtailing the Re-occurrence of ‘Natural’ Disasters in Pakistan

Pakistan is most at risk when it comes to being vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. The recent floods significantly damaged the crops harvested at the beginning of the year, negatively affecting the nation's economy because it is an agriculturally based nation.

Pakistan is most at risk when it comes to being vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. The recent floods significantly damaged the crops harvested at the beginning of the year, negatively affecting the nation's economy because it is an agriculturally sustained nation. 

According to the 2019 Climate Vulnerability Index, Pakistan is the eighth most vulnerable country out of the top ten countries, with significant climate change occurring between 1997 and 2016. 

Pakistan needs to take immediate action to reduce natural disasters brought on by climate change because of extreme heatwaves, urban flooding, fogs, and melting glaciers. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has started a reliable institutional framework for disaster preparedness. The occurrence of heat waves, droughts, cyclones, and floods is a result of climate change. In light of the frequent flooding during the monsoon season, the government has put sufficient measures for flood control and management down to the district level. 

The Pakistan Army contributes significantly to flood management by providing search and rescue services and emergency relief in affected areas. The Flood Commission begins creating plans to prevent flooding every year in April. Additionally, it maintains a constant line of communication with all provincial governments before, during, and following floods. 

To ensure the timely distribution of early warning through traditional and contemporary communication channels, the district, locality, and federal governments develop annual flood mitigation plans. Every year in April, the Flood Commission starts making plans to combat flooding. It also keeps tabs on water discharge from strategically significant dams and barrages and regularly communicates with all provincial governments before, during, and after flooding.

Every year, the local, state, and federal governments develop flood mitigation plans and make sure that early warnings are quickly disseminated via conventional and modern communication channels. Institutions involved in disaster management, development planning, and environmental management all work separately, and there is hardly any coordinated planning between these industries. 

Effective and efficient disaster management in the nation results from the lack of a centralized authority for integrated disaster management and coordination within and between disaster-related organizations. Structural considerations and mitigation strategies are heavily weighted in state-level disaster preparedness and undermine non-structural elements such as the knowledge and capacities of local people and related livelihood protection issues. 

Pakistan continues to be plagued by several risks, both natural and human-caused, putting the lives and livelihoods of its citizens in danger. The 6,037 fatalities and 8,989,631 affected individuals show that natural disasters in Pakistan had a high human cost. Rescue and relief efforts are the main areas of emphasis in Pakistan's disaster management of flood disasters. 

The government spends much money on rescue, comfort, and recovery after every tragedy. There is a lack of knowledge and information about hazard identification, risk assessment and management, and connections between livelihoods and disaster preparedness within Pakistani disaster management bodies. 

Thus, it is necessary for the establishment of a centralized authority for national disaster management and control. More coordinated efforts be made by environmental management organisations in Pakistan. Adherence to early warnings should be emphasized.