This presentation talks of one naturally recurring disaster gifted to Pakistan by the Global Warming

namely

Flood

Pakistan

Situation: Southeast AsiaLocation: City/Province Latitude Longitude

Karachi/Sindh 24.86 N 67.00 E

Lahore/Punjab 31.56 N 74.32 E Islamabad/Capital 33.71 N 73.08 EPeshawar/KPK 34.01 N 71.53 E

Economy Major share of GNP comes from agricultureEconomy Major share of GNP comes from agriculture

IrrigationSystem: Vast well established canal irrigation

Water Sources: (i) Five major natural rivers (Indus, Jhelum,

Chehab, Ravi, Sutlaj) spread through out KPK,Punjab and Sindh.

(ii) Seasonal rains

Pakistan Versus Global Warming

Share: Pakistan is contributing roughly 0.34 per cent of green house gases which are responsible for global warming [1].

Vulnerability: Inspite of less share to global warming, Pakistan is one of the eight most vulnerable country facing climate changes [1].

Reference [1]: http://www.dawn.com/news/1054435/Pakistans-glaciers-will-melt-by-2035

Major impact of Global Warming on Pakistan

As an obvious major measurable impact of global warming,

Pakistan has experienced increased probability and frequency of

floods during summer monsoon (rainy) season. floods during summer monsoon (rainy) season.

Example is the flood of 2010 [2]. But floods continue, Pakistan

had four consecutive years of flood disasters destroying harvests,

homes and people.

Reference [2]:

Chapter 2 of the Report “Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4 degree Celsius warmer world must be avoided”

Pakistan Flood 2010

The flood began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjan and Balochistan regions of Pakistan, which affected the

Indus River Basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area was under

water, approximately 796,095 square kilometer. According to government data, the water, approximately 796,095 square kilometer. According to government data, the

floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property,

livelihood and infrastructure, with a death toll of close to 2000. The Pakistani economy

was harmed by extensive damage to infrastructure and crops. Damage to structures

was estimated to exceed US$ 4 billion and wheat crop damages were estimated to be

over US$500 million [3].

Reference [3]:

2010 Pakistan Floods wikipedia.org

Pakistan Flood 2010

Pakistan Flood 2010

Once life giving mighty Indus River now out of control

Pakistan Flood 2010

Track of flood waves along Indus River

Pakistan Flood 2010

Flood water every where

Pakistan Flood 2010

Devastation by flood waters

Pakistan Flood 2010

Save life only if it can be saved

Pakistan Flood 2010

All worried Humans and Animals

Pakistan Flood 2010

Every thing left behind accept life

Pakistan Flood 2010

Disaster in old age

Pakistan Flood 2010

Waiting for possible help

Floods to be the

“New Normal”

To climate scientists, the weather event such as the one witnessed in Pakistan, is the beginning of the new normal in years to come. The aberration in weather patterns will be exacerbated by inadequate and poor patterns will be exacerbated by inadequate and poor planning and poor governance [4].

Recent monsoon rains and the destruction they have left in their wake in major cities of Punjab provide a grim picture of the inability of urban settlements to cope with intense downpours in a warming world.

Reference [4]: “No lessons learnt in flood-hit Pakistan”, Daily DAWN article by Zofeen T. Ebrahim-Published Sep 07, 2014

Cause of Miseries

If looked at policies, including the climate policy, one finds much wisdom there, but then it remains confined to sheaves of paper.

Newer settlements are mushrooming everywhere but nothing is regulated and developers are not bound by building is regulated and developers are not bound by building regulations. Many of the new housing development schemes have no sewage system and if they do have it, it has smaller drainage pipes which do not have capacity to carry out storm water.

Perhaps, here in Pakistan we are the best policy makers but the worst implementers [4].

Reference [4]:

“No lessons learnt in flood-hit Pakistan”, Daily DAWN article by Zofeen T. Ebrahim-Published Sep

07, 2014

Is Pakistan ready for a monsoon catastrophe?

We do need to change our attitudes and take the global warming very seriously as it has gifted Pakistan global warming very seriously as it has gifted Pakistan

with one recurring natural disaster-the flood.

We do need to act urgently to save ourselves and our generations in years ahead.

THANK THANK YOU