Flood in Pakistan- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2: International Relations- International Relations: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
Flood in Pakistan in News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message, in a recent tweet, expressing condolences to the victims of the flooding in Pakistan, is a welcome gesture.
- Pakistan has been facing one of the worst natural disasters in recent times in the form of Floods.
Flood in Pakistan- Loss of Life and Property
- More than 1,100 people have died, and over 33 million people have been affected, as officials say one-third of the country is under water, and estimate about $10 billion in damage to homes, roads and infrastructure.
- The floods have also affected standing crops, and as the waters recede, fears of disease as well as food shortages are expected to rise.
- In addition, the worry that the devastating floods have been caused due to climate change is a worry for all of South Asia, one of the world’s regions most vulnerable to global warming.
Flood in Pakistan- Support from Other Countries
- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launched a global appeal for aid to Pakistan, that he said had been hit by a “monsoon on steroids”, indicating unnatural climate patterns.
- Countries such as the U.K., the U.S., China, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey have already dispatched aid to Pakistan, and many others have promised help.
- The IMF announced a $1.1 billion bailout tranche, as part of ongoing negotiations with the Pakistan that is already steeped in an economic crisis.
Flood in Pakistan- India’s Support
- Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that he may propose lifting the trade ban imposed on India after the Jammu-Kashmir reorganisation in 2019, so as to import Indian vegetables and essential commodities.
- Thus far, Islamabad has only made exceptions for pharmaceutical imports from India during the COVID-19 pandemic, and India’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Flood in Pakistan- Way Forward
- Despite the poor state of India-Pakistan ties, both New Delhi and Islamabad must put aside their domestic considerations, and seize the moment to help those stranded in the flooding as best they can.
- It would be churlish and short-sighted of Pakistan to reject an opportunity to lift the trade ban with India that has only hurt its own interests, and to give up a source of affordable supplies at a time of such calamity.
Conclusion
- it would be both tragic and ridiculous if the enmity between the two countries would not allow them to work together at a time such as this, even as their governments allow their cricket teams to play each other for financial considerations.
- While a more lasting dialogue, that has been suspended between the two countries for nearly a decade over the terrorism issue, is unlikely, the leaders must find the time to discuss ways to mitigate the catastrophe at hand.
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