Stay united

People of Pakistan are going through the toughest time of their lives. More than 60 per cent of Pakistan is facing heavy rain and floods. The most affected areas of Pakistan are Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some parts of Punjab (“Pakistan monsoon flooding death toll tops 1,000: Official,” Aug. 28, Gulf Today website).

According to the news report, the death toll from monsoon flooding in Pakistan since June has reached 1,033, according to figures released on Sunday by the country’s National Disaster Management Authority. It said 119 people had died in the previous 24 hours, as heavy rains that have affected more than 33 million people continued to lash parts of the country. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people fled their homes in northern Pakistan on Saturday after a fast-rising river destroyed a major bridge, as deadly floods cause devastation across the country.

The flood situation in Pakistan remains risky and painful as fear of flooding around the river banks prompted around 180,000 people in the district of Charsadda to flee their homes, according to disaster officials, with some spending the night on highways with their livestock.

There is no doubt that the current situation in the country is deadly but the humanitarian work and generosity of people of Pakistan is also laudable. The whole country has now stood up and started humanitarian work and offering monetary assistance to the people who are really in trouble. Heavy rain and floods are not new in Pakistan, I am sure, as nations help each other people will emerge successfully from the toughest time they are facing right now.

Shamsuddin Khushk,
By email