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1) Flooding in Punjab

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Historical Context of Flooding in Punjab
3. Current Crisis: Scale & Humanitarian Response
4. Geography & Typology of Floods
5. Climate Change Dimension
6. Governance Failures & Political Absenteeism
7. Structural Drivers of Flood Vulnerability
8. Upstream Releases & Water Diplomacy
9. Socio-Economic Impacts
10. Policy Imperatives for Flood Resilience
11. Facts & Figures
12. Vocabulary Table
13. Way Forward
14. Conclusion

Expanded Essay

1. Introduction
   Punjab, Pakistan’s breadbasket, faces recurrent devastation from floods. The 2025 monsoon has once again highlighted the fragility of infrastructure, governance, and planning. While climate variability is a catalyst, institutional inertia remains the primary cause.
2. Historical Context
   Punjab has suffered major floods in 1929, 1955, 1973, 1992, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The 2010 super floods displaced over 20 million people and caused losses of $43 billion. Yet, preventive reforms remain elusive.
3. Current Crisis
   Over 200,000 residents have been evacuated, with military involvement in eight districts. The Chenab swelled to over 1 million cusecs, overwhelming embankments. Civil administration lagged, with the Chief Minister absent during the peak crisis.
4. Geography & Typology
   Punjab’s vulnerability stems from its riverine system (Indus tributaries) and rapid urbanization. Flash floods in Rawalpindi and Lahore expose drainage inefficiency, while riverine floods devastate rural agrarian belts.
5. Climate Change Dimension
   Pakistan ranks 8th on the Global Climate Risk Index (2021). Climate-induced variability in monsoon intensity and Himalayan glacier melt exacerbate Punjab’s risk profile.
6. Governance Failures
   Disaster response remains reactive. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) focus on rescue, not mitigation. Encroachment on floodplains continues under political patronage.
7. Structural Drivers

• Urban sprawl on natural drainage channels
• Outdated irrigation and drainage systems (many dating back to colonial times)
• Deforestation reducing absorption capacity
• Corruption in infrastructure projects

8. Upstream Releases & Water Diplomacy
   India’s sudden releases from upstream dams aggravated flows. Though the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) mandates data sharing, lapses persist. Pakistan has repeatedly called for joint flood management mechanisms.
9. Socio-Economic Impacts

• Crops worth billions destroyed (cotton, rice, maize).
• Education disrupted: hundreds of schools converted into relief camps.
• Public health emergencies: cholera, malaria, and dengue risks surge in relief camps.

10. Policy Imperatives

• Develop an Eastern Rivers Basin Authority.
• Invest in forecast-based financing (used by Bangladesh).
• Legally enforce floodplain zoning.
• Construct climate-resilient drainage systems in urban Punjab.

11. Facts & Figures

• 200,000+ evacuated in Punjab (Dawn, 2025)
• 1 million cusecs peak flow in Chenab
• Pakistan lost $43 billion in 2010 floods (World Bank)
• 7% of GDP lost annually due to climate disasters (ADB)
• NDMA budget: only Rs 20 billion (2024-25), inadequate for national preparedness

12. Vocabulary Table

13. Way Forward

• Institutionalize disaster risk reduction (DRR) into planning
• Modernize early warning systems with AI-based forecasting
• Strengthen regional water diplomacy with India
• Mobilize climate finance (Green Climate Fund, World Bank) for infrastructure

14. Conclusion
    Floods in Punjab symbolize Pakistan’s struggle between nature and negligence. The crisis demands a pivot from firefighting to foresight.