FPCCI Proposes Blueprint for Mitigating Damages Due to Floods Suleman Chawla

Karachi (PR): Mr. Suleman Chawla, Acting President FPCCI, has said that FPCCI has come up with pragmatic recommendations for the government to mitigate the damages and disasters caused by floods in Pakistan repeatedly; which destroys precious human lives; crops & livelihoods and the economy as a whole. He recalled that these damages touched astronomical proportions in 2022; resulting in 33 million people badly affected and $30 billion in cumulative financial losses to the country – and, we as a nation, must strive hard to prevent these dangers .to wreck havocs again

Mr. Suleman Chawla, Acting President FPCCI, stressed that we should get our governance in order and prepare for the challenges of climate change being faced by Pakistan; despite being a contributor of merely 0.8 percent of world’s total carbon emissions; but, bearing a much larger and disproportionate share without any substantial & tangible assistance from the developed .world

Acting FPCCI Chief put forward the following recommendations from the platform of apex trade & industry body of the country: (i) protect water’s pathways to ensure smooth water flow by removing every built structure or infrastructure that is creating any hindrance; (ii) revise construction standards to prioritize mitigating risks from flooding; (iii) cash disbursement should be replaced with insurance schemes for crops, houses, shops, etc; (iv) the functional revival of local government system is necessary to better manage natural disasters and carrying out rescue, relief and rehabilitation with the help of provincial and federal governments; armed forces; private and non-for-profit national, international entities; (v) research studies & surveys should be launched in universities and research institutes to establish cause and effect relationship of the damaged infrastructure in villages, towns and districts; (vi) policy interventions to be devised on the experiences from the 2022 disastrous floods to make Pakistan more resilient towards future natural or man-made disasters; (vii) watershed management studies and activities should be supported by the government throughout the country to prevent soil erosion and to regulate the water that flows into the rivers as surface and subsurface flow; which have been modified due to urbanization; development of infrastructure .(roads, bridges, etc.);crops & cultivation; cutting of trees; overgrazing, etc

Engr. M. A. Jabbar, VP FPCCI, mentioned that there are 150 dams in the country and there is an urgent need to develop reservoir capacities to preserve water and mitigate future floods at the same time. Additionally, at school and college levels, environment and water management-related awareness should be promoted through trainings for teachers and .introducing these concepts effectively in the syllabi

Prof. Dr. Viqar Hussain, Convener of FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Environment, said that we should believe in science; and, should carry out geological, geotechnical studies for the site selection for the dams and reservoirs; start diligently following building codes and .enhance constructions standards in the country based on international best practices

Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.

Secretary General