Not natural disasters”: Senate links floods to mismanagement and poor planning

Senator Rehman opened the session with a moment of silence for flood victims and criticized the widespread use of the term "natural disaster

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination convened a critical meeting to address the worsening flood crisis in Pakistan, drawing sharp attention to administrative negligence, poor enforcement, and unregulated construction as key drivers of recent disasters. Chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, the committee held a detailed discussion on several tragic flood incidents and emphasized that such events are not “natural disasters” but preventable tragedies resulting from human failure and climate inaction.

Senator Rehman opened the session with a moment of silence for flood victims and criticized the widespread use of the term “natural disaster” (qudrati afat), arguing that it masks institutional accountability. She stressed that Pakistan’s intensifying floods are the result of predictable climate patterns worsened by deforestation, encroachment on waterways, and inadequate infrastructure planning.

Among the specific cases discussed was the Saidpur Village flood in Islamabad, where illegal construction on a natural drain led to catastrophic flooding that swept away multiple vehicles. In DHA Islamabad, the heartbreaking incident of a father and daughter being carried away by floodwaters was highlighted as a tragic failure of planning and emergency response. The car was recovered in pieces, but the victims remained missing at the time of the meeting.

The committee also revisited the 2022 Swat floods, which had destroyed hotels built along the river. Shockingly, members revealed that new hotels are again being constructed at the same dangerous locations, underscoring the absence of regulation. Similar concerns were raised about Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, where flash floods and cloudbursts endanger both locals and unaware tourists. Senator Falak Naz also noted that a recently built flyover in Islamabad’s F-8 sector had sunk due to heavy rainfall, pointing to serious flaws in infrastructure quality.

Multiple systemic failures were identified. Chief among them were illegal encroachments, blocked drainage systems, and a disregard for land-use planning. The committee recalled that it had issued clear directives in January to clean all drains in Islamabad within 60 days, a task which remained unfulfilled. The resulting floods were seen as direct proof of administrative negligence.

Further criticism was directed at the Capital Development Authority (CDA), provincial departments, and local governments for failing to act despite repeated warnings. The committee condemned the lack of enforcement of construction laws and emphasized the need for accountability. It announced plans to summon CDA and Punjab Government officials to explain their inaction.

The committee also slammed tourist management practices in flood-prone areas, stating that warnings alone were insufficient. It urged local governments to proactively restrict tourist access during severe weather alerts to prevent further loss of life.

To address these urgent concerns, the committee recommended multiple steps: summoning responsible officials for accountability, imposing a strict ban on construction near natural drains and flood zones, enforcing complete cleaning of all clogged nalas, and conducting a national audit of vulnerable settlements and infrastructure. They also called for a long-term plan to maintain drainage systems year-round, not just during monsoon season.