Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
No action despite warning
Sir: Pakistan was warned at least 19 months in advance about the devastating floods in an international conference held in Islamabad. Surprisingly, no effective flood control plan was prepared by Pakistans federal government, particularly the Federal Flood Commission. The Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri had said, Pakistan is witnessing severe pressures on natural resources and environment.Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani attended the session on January 13, 2009. He was obviously disturbed by the facts provided by the chief guest, Mr Pachauri, that environment degradation would cost Pakistan five percent of GDP every year. I request PM Gilani to clarify why no strategy was planned despite the early warning. The PM should take the Chairman Federal Flood Commission, Zarar Aslam, to task, who, instead of admitting the failure of his organisation by not taking precautionary measures to avert the flood devastation, seems busy in issuing politically motivated statements. The floods resulted in the loss of precious lives and mega destruction of infrastructure.
M KHAN SIAL
Karachi
No action despite warning
Sir: Pakistan was warned at least 19 months in advance about the devastating floods in an international conference held in Islamabad. Surprisingly, no effective flood control plan was prepared by Pakistans federal government, particularly the Federal Flood Commission. The Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri had said, Pakistan is witnessing severe pressures on natural resources and environment.Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani attended the session on January 13, 2009. He was obviously disturbed by the facts provided by the chief guest, Mr Pachauri, that environment degradation would cost Pakistan five percent of GDP every year. I request PM Gilani to clarify why no strategy was planned despite the early warning. The PM should take the Chairman Federal Flood Commission, Zarar Aslam, to task, who, instead of admitting the failure of his organisation by not taking precautionary measures to avert the flood devastation, seems busy in issuing politically motivated statements. The floods resulted in the loss of precious lives and mega destruction of infrastructure.
M KHAN SIAL
Karachi