Lawmakers highlight flood devastation, climate threats, and urgent need for water management

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while chairing the assembly session on Monday, stressed that this is not a time for political differences, highlighting that the country is facing multiple challenges, including torrential rains, cloudbursts, and the release of water from India, which have worsened the flood crisis.

The National Assembly session began on a solemn note as members offered prayers for those who lost their lives in recent floods across Pakistan, as well as for victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan.

Following the Speaker’s appeal, former minister Ali Muhammad Khan led a collective prayer for the deceased and martyrs.

The speaker also mentioned that comprehensive programs had been arranged for Eid Milad-un-Nabi but noted that the country’s immediate priority was addressing the flood disaster.

Ayaz Sadiq proposed that parliamentarians donate one month’s salary to flood victims, a call that was immediately supported by Deputy Speaker, who pledged his salary, and Syed Naveed Qamar, who also announced his contribution. The house also suspended the question hour on the request of Syed Naveed Qamar to focus on flood-related discussions.

PTI member Ali Muhammad Khan urged the government to hold detailed sessions on water management and dam construction, pointing out that no major dam had been built since Mangla and Tarbela due to political differences.

Naveed Qamar warned that climate forecasts indicated floods could become 22 percent more dangerous next year as glaciers continue to melt.

He cautioned that if glaciers disappear, Pakistan could face desertification, stressing the need for urgent planning and infrastructure development.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif strongly criticized widespread encroachments on riverbeds and water channels, blaming illegal constructions, housing societies, and hotels for intensifying flood damage.

He described the disaster as “man-made” and a result of collective negligence, noting that little had been done to remove encroachments after previous floods.

Asif highlighted urban flooding in Sialkot and warned that building on waterways had forced floodwaters to flow backward, causing severe destruction.

He called for the construction of hundreds of small dams, which could be built quickly and prove more effective than waiting decades for large projects.

The minister also criticized the weakening of local governments, which he said were treated as political tools rather than functional institutions.

 Khawaja Asif emphasized the importance of building small dams to address Pakistan’s looming water crisis, warning that reliance on mega projects could delay critical solutions.

He noted that large dams typically require 10 to 15 years for completion, which makes them an impractical solution for the country’s immediate needs.

Pointing to corruption and land scams, Asif accused powerful groups of illegally selling plots on river and drain lands, worsening the scale of destruction.

The session concluded with lawmakers across party lines agreeing on the need for collective action to confront climate challenges, water management issues, and disaster preparedness, setting aside political disputes to focus on national survival.

The members also attended a detailed briefing by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).