Pakistan is lagging behind in dealing with natural disasters

By Hassaan Ahmed

Sichuan is a province in southwest China that was completely destroyed in May 2008 due to a mighty earthquake that is still regarded as second most powerful tremor in history in terms of economic loss. The total loss was estimated at $191,913 million and there were 10 million displaced persons along with 87,150 dead after that catastrophe. The amount of people without shelter is the highest in the history of natural disasters, according to the BBC. The scope of devastation can be gauged through a single precedent that for the first time China was forced to acquire international assistance to rebuild its infrastructure. The governor of the province in 2012 announced in a public gathering that the entire province had been reconstructed in the short span of time with improvised Standing Operating Procedures (SPO) for buildings that can now bear the heavy shocks of earthquakes. History witnessed that the same province was jolted once again in 2013 but not a single building collapsed. It was the success story of a developed nation that lifted itself from the debris of the worst ever catastrophe of human history.

The earthquake of 7.5 magnitude that hit Pakistan this October reinvigorated the terrifying memories of the October 2005 earthquake, when more than 80,000 people were reported dead and nearly 2.8 million were displaced. The recent earthquake did not cost as much in comparison because its epicentre was far away from Pakistan. According to the data released by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 281 people have been declared dead in this natural disaster and nearly 2300 were injured. It seems that our institutions that deal with disaster management and plan precautionary measures have not learnt much from past experience as 35,492 houses were damaged in this earthquake if we believe the data released by NDMA.

The earthquake of 7.5 magnitude that hit Pakistan this October reinvigorated the terrifying memories of the October 2005 earthquake, when more than 80,000 people were reported dead and nearly 2.8 million were displaced

A development expert and analyst, Salman Abid, who has carried vast research in the field of local bodies, governance and disaster management, told DNA that the modern world has made much progress but here in Pakistan we are not ready to take natural disasters seriously even today. He was of the view that countries like Japan, Malaysia and China have invented modern techniques and SOPs to tackle the shocks of an earthquake but in Pakistan our rulers and citizens end up by just terming an earthquake the “punishment” for our bad deeds. He further added that prime minister and chief ministers do not bother to conduct the meetings of NDMA and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA’s) respectively.

The Earthquake reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) was established through an ordinance just after the earthquake of 2005 and was made a permanent body by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government in 2011. The mission statement of ERRA was to reconstruct and rebuild the destroyed houses with “higher” standards of reconstruction and rehabilitation. It is a matter of shame that the slot of ERRA chairman has been lying vacant since 2013 and no effort was made by the government to decide the future of this body. As per some reports, it was decided once in the cabinet in 2014 to quash the ERRA but this idea could not be materialised keeping in view legal implications behind it.

An Assistant Professor of Geography at Government College University (GCU) Lahore, Syed Yasir Usman, was of the view that geographically, Pakistan is situated in a highly risky area and prevention measures can mitigate the effects of earthquakes. He added that building codes must be implemented in this regard. The scientific study of earthquakes is called as seismology and according to Syed, there is not a single seismologist working in the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The government has released data which shows that 25,842 houses have been damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 9038 in FATA. This figure may tend to rise and actual loss is yet to be ascertained keeping in view the tough terrain of that area. The lawmakers from Bajaur Agency have rejected the government’s claim that 8120 houses were damaged in the Agency because they think that more than 20,000 houses were damaged. Winter is inching closer and to provide shelter to the homeless must be a great concern for the state in these circumstances. All over the world, disaster management is divided into two steps: risk management prior to any disaster and post disaster management. In Pakistan, risk management is completely neglected and all funds are allocated once the disaster takes place.

The government has released data which shows that 25,842 houses have been damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 9038 in FATA

According to Salman Abid, precautionary measures must become a part of the national curriculum and resources should be allocated to the third tier.

“There was a time when the training of civil defense was a necessary part in school and college life. This practice is a good option to impart precautionary measures to the citizens. The state must facilitate welfare organisations in relief work and should work jointly in affected areas”, Abid said while talking to DNA.

It is a sheer crime by the state that homeless people have to wait for long to get shelter after every natural disaster despite tall claims of the government. Every time a disaster approaches, the military is called for evacuation and that is not a good sign for civil institutions. The ongoing relations between Pakistan and China are exemplary in the wake of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Pakistan must use Chinese expertise to deal with natural disasters as well.