The catastrophic cloudburst in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 15 was not just another monsoon tragedy. It was a stark reminder that when governance fails and resources are distributed unjustly, climate shocks strike with multiplied cruelty.

The official numbers were grim (by Saturday noon): at least 327 lives lost in KP, with 204 in Buner alone, and 12 more in Gilgit-Baltistan. Hundreds remain injured or missing. Pir Baba Bazaar in Buner was swallowed by torrents; livestock and homes disappeared within minutes. The tragic crash of a rescue helicopter — claiming the lives of five dedicated crew members — was a heartbreaking reminder of the risks borne by those who step forward in moments of crisis.

Scientists have long warned that climate change is intensifying rainfall by 10–15 per cent in the Himalayan belt. In Pakistan, unplanned hillside development has destabilised fragile slopes, turning heavy rain into lethal landslides.

But this scientific reality cannot be separated from political negligence. It is not nature alone that devastates; it is the global apathy towards Pakistan’s climate financing needs, coupled with domestic failures to govern wisely, plan sustainably, and allocate resources equitably.

Despite contributing less than 1pc of global carbon emissions, Pakistan........

© Dawn Business