The recent catastrophic flood of the Swat River was a disaster waiting to happen, claiming 12 innocent lives and exposing the cold, hard facts of unchecked development, administrative negligence, and environmental degradation that sparked this tragedy.

Floods and droughts exist side by side. This isn’t nature’s wrath; it’s the price of human neglect. Water is disappearing. Forests are being cut down. Cities are expanding without a conscience. And what is the government’s response? Maintaining silence when action is most needed.

Pakistan is trapped in a cruel paradox — oscillating between severe devastating floods and water shortages. In 2022 alone, more than 30 million people were displaced by catastrophic rains, while the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) warns that the country could face absolute water scarcity within this decade. This crisis is not just climatic; it is systemic. Decades of poor planning, short-sighted policies, and political apathy have left us dangerously unprepared for a disaster that is already unfolding.

National unity, peace imperative during Muharram: Zahid Qasmi

The obsession with concrete and construction, particularly the rapid development of housing societies, is costing nature heavily. In just 20 years, Islamabad, which was formerly celebrated for its lush greenery, has lost about 20% of its forest cover. These days, housing societies are infiltrating the Margalla Hills’ slopes while ignoring the long-term adverse ecological........

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