Despite heavy flooding in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has miserably failed to implement a World Bank-funded project to develop appropriate methodology and guidelines for assessing and subsequently enhancing multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster response capacity of urban authorities. The bank has labeled this project into “unsatisfactory” mode in its latest report available with The News in which none of the set objectives was achieved during the project period of three years. According to the WB, only 20 percent funds were utilised and the remaining 80 percent lapsed during June 29, 2012 and July 31, 2015 period. Out of the total approved funding of $2.73 million, disbursement for this project stood at $0.55 million during the last three years. Apart from WB funds, NDMA has miserably failed to deal with natural disasters time and again. For example in recent floods, the role of NDMA was almost nil. Interestingly, just as the Senate standing committee was being enlightened about some of the disaster management authority’s many inabilities, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal – speaking about Vision 2025, of course – was underscoring the need for ‘a holistic approach’ for human resource development ‘by synergising efforts on education, health, nutrition and population’. Yet the government’s policies reflect a different set of priorities. There is not much emphasis on the sectors Iqbal listed. There is, though, overwhelming focus on mega projects like motorways, power plants, etc. It is little surprise, in hindsight, that the crucial organs of state remain non-functional, just like NDMA, while official energy is invested in efforts that do not relate to the people’s most pressing issues. This policy framework rightly draws criticism from the opposition. The government loses points every time disasters kill and dislocate people – not to mention the continuous drain on the GDP. In case of floods, when small farmers are destroyed, it takes much longer for the periphery to return to the natural production and earning cycle. It doesn’t help, of course, when more floods come before the process is complete, inflicting compound damage. Concerned offices continue to display criminal negligence by ignoring institutions like NDMA. The government must immediately reset its to-do list, not just for the sake of the people, but for its own political survival. It is not winning many hearts by being so detached from the people.
pk.shafaqna.com
