With the monsoon season ending, Pakistan has been drenched in rain water. Roads are blocked in cities like Lahore and Karachi, citizens have had to take days off from work and there is an overall chaotic atmosphere all over the country. However, this is not a new phenomenon. All those who have endured this season in Pakistan know that it brings with itself some destruction every year, more for those from the underprivileged areas and less for the posh area dwellers.
Each year we see governments making promises that next year so and so won’t happen and each year everyone receives text messages from NDMA, warning everyone of the destruction that may follow the next rainfall. So what is it that the government fails to do and what should citizens do to make their lives easier.
Firstly, we should think of this as a gift of nature that we are not properly utilizing. Many areas of the world are completely devoid of rain falling from the sky. Pakistan, however, gets a good share of it every year and therefore, things should be done to conserve this water and use it for different purposes.
Rainwater can be utilized in many ways. It will require the effort of the government and the citizens to play their part and only then can it be fruitful. The government can make large reservoirs and fix sewerage systems so that the collected water can be used for irrigation, to feed and bathe livestock and maybe even to make electricity. The citizens on the other hand can collect rainwater and use it for cleaning purposes, for cooking and drinking and many other things as the wA system of rainwater harvesting is being used in many areas that do not have many water resources nearby. This is done through special kinds of roofs that collect water and store it in a reservoir. This water can then be used for any domestic purpose and can even become drinkable after filtration.
In conclusion, the problem of flooding can be solved through better sewerage systems and through the collective effort of utilizing rainwater for multiple purposes. This is a sustainable method that will also be good for the environment
