Parliamentarians Unite to Address Flood Crisis, Advocate for Water Reservoirs

In the National Assembly, lawmakers from across the political spectrum voiced their support for constructing water reservoirs, highlighting concerns about the unprecedented flood situation affecting the nation.

Ali Muhammad Khan, a member of the National Assembly from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emphasized the necessity of a nationwide strategy for water reservoirs. Concurrently, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif promoted the building of both large-scale and small-scale dams, stressing the importance of setting aside political disagreements on this crucial matter.

The legislators’ worries regarding the deficit in water storage infrastructure arise in the context of extensive flooding in Punjab, triggered by heavy rainfall combined with water releases from India.

Prior to Punjab, regions including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir experienced intense rainfall, leading to landslides and flash floods that caused substantial devastation in the northern parts of the country.

According to data provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), approximately 874 individuals have lost their lives due to various rain and flood-related incidents nationwide since June 26.

KP has recorded the highest number of casualties, with 488 fatalities, followed by Punjab with 216, Sindh with 58, GB with 41, AJK with 37, Balochistan with 26, and Islamabad with eight.

Asif pointed out that the nation’s two major dams were initiated during a period of dictatorial rule, as consensus was achieved, while politicians have often been caught up in unproductive political disputes.

The defence minister advocated for dam construction, stating, “Building larger dams will require 10 to 15 years, but we can, at the very least, commence with smaller dams to conserve water and manage the circumstances.”

He emphasized that this is a matter of national importance, calling for unity and a basic agenda on which everyone can agree.

The minister urged against politicizing the issue and obstructing the construction of water reservoirs.

He described the unprecedented floods, especially in Punjab and KP, as a man-made disaster, asserting that the political establishment shares responsibility for the calamity due to the encroachment of riverbeds.

The National Assembly suspended its regular agenda, including question hour, to discuss the flood crisis.

The defence minister emphasized the need for introspection, noting that nature and rivers are retaliating against the occupation of waterways and riverbeds.

Asif highlighted that hotels have been erected on riverbeds in Swat and other regions, leading to environmental consequences.

He mentioned a contractor from Sialkot, now a Senate member, who allegedly sold plots on nullahs and riverbeds, causing harm to the environment. He referenced a letter from February 2022, in which the then deputy commissioner alerted the Punjab chief secretary to the issue, which came to light after floodwaters washed away houses built on riverbeds.

He questioned the amount of land recovered from encroachment over the past three years and supported Ali Muhammad’s proposal to construct the Mohmand Dam, while also underscoring the immediate requirement for smaller dams.

The politician advocated for a cohesive national strategy to alleviate human suffering and property destruction caused by the devastating floods. He also promoted decentralization and the empowerment of local government systems.

He emphasized the need for a robust local government system to serve the populace efficiently.

He observed that there has been limited devolution of authority, with powers remaining concentrated in provincial capitals.

The PTI MNA underscored the pressing need for a national policy on water reservoirs and dams to reduce the repeated devastation caused by floods in Pakistan.

He conveyed that he had arrived directly from the KP House, where the chief minister, provincial leaders, and party members were discussing the ongoing emergency.

He expressed gratitude to the speaker for offering prayers for the deceased and impacted individuals, and praised the House for demonstrating solidarity.

The PTI lawmaker recalled previous natural disasters in Buner, Swat, and parts of Mansehra, as well as the severe impact on Azad Kashmir.

He stated that the federal government and provincial administrations must collaborate closely to address the current devastation in Punjab.

He proposed a dedicated parliamentary session to explore long-term water management solutions, specifically the construction of new dams and reservoirs. He mentioned that the Mohmand Dam project was initiated during PTI’s tenure and urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration to expedite its progress.

The PTI MNA appealed to all political parties to depoliticize the matter, defining dam construction as a matter of national importance. He highlighted the absence of mega-dams on the scale of Mangla or Tarbela for decades, despite the urgent demand.

He said that Parliament can provide the greatest gift to the nation by creating a comprehensive water storage policy to protect Punjab, KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Sindh from recurrent floods, thus strengthening Pakistan’s future generations.

Naveed Qamar of the Pakistan Peoples Party emphasised the necessity for a united national commitment, involving all political entities, to implement bans on deforestation, river and drain encroachments, and mismanagement of resources.

He stated that the impacts of climate change are visible, with glacial melt, obstructed waterways, and uncontrolled deforestation intensifying disasters.

Citing expert warnings, the PPP leader said that future floods could be 22% more destructive, while long-term glacial melt could dry up the Indus and other rivers, transforming fertile lands into deserts and threatening ecosystems.

Qamar said that Parliament is the key platform to build consensus and guide government action via constructive feedback and solutions.

He stated that in the face of national disasters, bipartisanship is essential, and immediate flood preparedness is vital.