NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES

BS ENGLISH [2A – MORNING]

Pakistan Studies

Assignment 01

Flood in Pakistan, it social and economic impacts.

Submitted to: Mr. Ayaz

Submitted by: Hina Basharat

Due date: 10th ,October 2022

 Floods in Pakistan
The floods caused by climate change-induced rains have submerged one-third of
Pakistan. Provinces like Sindh and Balochistan in the south are the worst affected.
The devastation caused by these extensive floods is unimaginable. Global
warming is likely to have played a role in the devastating floods that hit Pakistan.
Pakistan is already surrounded by numerous problems, including poverty,
unemployment, political and economic instability and floods have added to the
battle. The devastation wrought by these floods is decidedly far bigger than 2010
floods and has indicated a trend for the increased impact of climate change in the
years to come. This climate carnage has damaged the country beyond its capacity.
The country is in political and economic chaos. The disaster has worsened the
condition even more.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF FLOODING

The socio-economic impacts refer to all changes in the way people live, work,
relate, organize and how these interactions have direct influence on means of
livelihood, the purchasing and production power, mass immigration and
agriculture. More specifically, social impacts concern poverty, loss of life, health
effects, loss of community cohesion, loss of time, changing attitudes, impoverish
neighborhood etc. On the other hand, the economic impacts include disruptions
of clean water and electricity supply, transport, communication, education, health
care services, reduction in purchasing power and loss of land value in the flood
plains which can lead to increased vulnerabilities of communities in the living
area. The additional cost of rehabilitation, relocation of flood victims and removal
of property from flood-affected areas can divert the capital required for
maintaining production.

SOCIAL IMPACTS OF FLOODS

Floods have badly affected the country and weakened it socially and
economically. These unprecedented floods affected the lives of more than 33
million people, led to over 1500 deaths, damaged crops, destroyed 1.5 million
homes and killed 727,000 cattle. Flood victims are now confronting a new threat,
the non-functioning of infrastructure facilities and deterioration of health
condition led to waterborne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, diarrhea, malaria
and dengue are the most common ones. Due to non-functioning of health centers
these waterborne diseases have largely affected the flood victims especially
children. The stagnant and contaminated water gave rise to vector-borne disease.
Doctors were initially treating patients traumatized by flooding, but now treating
people suffering from Diarrhea, skin infections and other waterborne ailments.
Many pregnant women were also exposed to risks. The government and related
authorities are trying to combat with it by ensuring rapid access to essential
health services to the flood-affected population and providing clean drinking
water to survivors. Moreover about 650,000 pregnant women in flood-affected
areas require maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth.
In this regard, over 5000 medical camps have set up in the worse-affected
province of sindh to treat such victims. Women and children suffered more from
all this. They are becoming more vulnerable from these infectious and
waterborne diseases. The problem was severe among children and in
neighborhoods where water supply lines are mixed with those for sewerage.

These cataclysmic floods have affected not just the people but the environment.
The destruction of structures such as bridges and roads added to the human toll
and prevented help from reaching devastated areas.

Moreover, these floods have washed away more than a million cattle and thus
wiped out years of farmers’ savings. Millions of livestock have been affected by
the floods and are badly in need of food and medicine. Many animals died
because people had to leave them behind when they were rescued by military
and other rescue services. The floods have affected the most densely populated
livestock areas in Pakistan. And as livestock make up about half of agricultural
GDP, it has crumbled the country economically. The widespread destruction of
agriculture and livestock triggered additional food shortages.

Besides killing more than 1500 people and leaving millions homeless, the
destruction to crops has added to the pain, depleting food supplies and reducing
revenues from exports. The impact of floods on country’s rural communities and
agriculture has been devastating, resulting in loss of crops, livestock and essential
infrastructure. The country is now facing food security crisis. Farmers have lost
their standing crops of cotton and sugarcane that were ready to be harvested. As
agriculture has 23 percent share in total gross domestic product (GDP). The floods
destruction in the areas of Sindh and Balochistan caused severe damage,
disrupted economic processes and causes a food shortage.

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF FLOODS

The unprecedented floods in the country have caused severe economic damages
and led to weak and crumbled economy. The country’s economy is already facing
crisis, the floods have added to the battle. The floods have brought devastating
impacts on different sectors of the economy, mainly agriculture and its related
industries. Agriculture makes up nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s economy, which
has been destroyed by a series of extensive floods. Pakistan is now predicted to
experience an economic loss of $12.5 billion as a result of the destruction caused
by flooding. With inflation projected to reach a record high of 30% by the end of
this year.

The devastation caused by the floods cannot be underestimated. Agriculture and

farming are sole sources of income for communities across the country, and
millions of families are at risk of becoming solely reliant on humanitarian support
as the country’s GDP shrinks.

The most severe consequences of floods are on country’s economy. Everything

stopped including business and economic processes in the areas of Sindh and
Balochistan. Floods have destroyed the food sources and transportation routes.
People are likely to go hungry as employment dries up and they cannot afford
food. They are in urgent need of food, drinking water, shelter, healthcare and
essential items such as hygiene products. As the country’s economy is called into
question, it is up to the unaffected two-third of population and concerned
authorities to reach them and address the need for sanitation and menstrual
items.
The unfolding tragedy has invoked a tremendous response from the international
community and friendly countries which continue to send relief goods and
financial assistance to help Pakistan cope with the situation.

SOLUTIONS

Recovering from a flood can be a long process which requires understanding and
evaluating the consequences of flooding and the rebuilding of infrastructures and
healing the trauma.

After a big flood or any other kind of disaster, communities take some actions to
ensure people safety and decrease the chance of property or life loss.

Climate change

Many Experts point to climate change as one of the reasons behind the extremes
in weather conditions. Damages caused by flooding are many and they affect both
economically powerful and struggling nations. The initiative towards taking better
care of the environment can halt the devastation of weather-related disasters.
There should be a concerted effort by governments to decrease global warming
by improving methods in combating pollution and degradation of the
environment.

Good Town Planning

It is important that a town has a good layout to prevent possible structural

problems. Engineers and architects should study the area and build structures
that can withstand the challenges in the environment. Water systems should not
be blocked and drainage systems must be covered. Rainwater must be allowed to
pass through smoothly in the town’s drainage system. A good drainage system
offsets the effects of flash floods resulting in a safer area.

Vegetation

The loss of trees and vegetation in strategic areas exacerbate what damage can
floods cause. Trees, shrubs and grass help protect areas from a flood by moving
water. People should be encouraged to use vegetation to break the force of
moving flood waters.

Education

The consequences of flooding can be reduced with education. In some areas,

waterways are clogged with litter resulting in floods during rainfall. Instructing
people about proper waste disposal and putting the proper containers for a litter
can help for a cleaner environment and drainage system. People should also be
educated about what to do during a flood to prevent the loss of lives and to
ensure that each member of the community will be protected when an
emergency happens.