Poor families displaced by the floods urgently need direct cash transfers to survive and begin rebuilding their lives.

Many concerned individuals and organisations, aware of the crisis’s severity, are willing to contribute. However, their support hinges on the presence of a credible system that ensures traceability and accountability of the funds they commit.

A history of leakages in public resources, mismanagement and past instances of donated goods appearing in markets has eroded public and partner trust in government relief efforts. Despite this scepticism, many Pakistani business leaders, cognisant of their own limitations in directly driving large-scale impact, may still be willing to fund credible, well-structured initiatives focused on restoration and rehabilitation, provided transparency and accountability mechanisms are firmly in place.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb likely had this dilemma in mind when he recently told the media that, in the wake of climate-induced natural disasters, Pakistan’s greater challenge has not been mobilising donor support but developing credible, bankable projects. Following the 2022 floods, the country secured substantial international pledges, yet the absence of well-prepared, viable proposals hindered their effective utilisation.

“Let’s admit we failed to present investable projects,” he remarked, reflecting........

© Dawn Business