Editorial
The month of September comes with two mega-events worldwide that attract
the world’s attention. One is United Nations General A s s e m b l y (UNGA) meeting in New York, while the second is related to creating lasting peace worldwide by celebrating world peace day on September 21.
the world’s attention. One is United Nations General A s s e m b l y (UNGA) meeting in New York, while the second is related to creating lasting peace worldwide by celebrating world peace day on September 21.
Both events carry enough significance as world leaders gather at one platform, vowing to join hands to work for achieving new Millennium Development Goals and other humanity-related issues, thus enhancing the chances for creating a peaceful world.
The theme of the general debate of this year’s 69th session of UNGA is “Delivering on and implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda,” while the theme for International Day of Peace 2014 is the “Right of Peoples to Peace”.
Even after having several UNGA kinds of forums and Peace Days look, the world has become insecure, and humanity living on this planet earth has grown intolerant towards each other.
Take the history of the world for the last fourteen years entering into the new millennium; we faced our first war at the very beginning after the 9/11 attacks. A worldwide campaign against terror started soon after by the superpower US by invading Afghanistan with military might, and till now, there is no look back from there. After Afghanistan, it was Iraq and the war is still on.
Non-state actors like Al-Qaeda and ISIS groups have emerged to challenge the might of the great power. However, in this battle of titans, the sole sufferers are the innocent citizens of the states, having nothing to do with politics and power lust.
States from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, where superpower has invaded or used their proxies to keep the conflicts simmering, have become plagued with unending political turmoil, inflations, food insecurity, human rights violations, terrible health and sanitation, trembling democracies, stark socio-economic disparities, ethnic and sectarian violence, misgovernance and last but not least, substantial natural disasters added fuel to the fire.
Majority of the humanity in these regions spend their time wondering when their next meal is coming from or waiting to have some options for jobs thus to have a sustainable livelihood.
Forums like UNGA and celebrating the international day of peace would only be meaningful if speeches and rhetorics at the forums like these would be implemented in the best and most honest possible way, especially for the people of the countries like Pakistan.
People of Pakistan felt political, social, and economic tremors after tremors. Recent floods made havoc across the Indus Basin due to the recent heavy rains caused by severe climate change effects.
Experts reveal that “Improper land use, poor urban infrastructure, and haphazard settlement” and “lack of research-based adaptation on measures” are the major reasons behind converting a weather condition into a disaster across Pakistan.
The question here is when Pakistan would learn from its flood experience. As Pakistan battles with the newly emerged calamities, there is a dire need to build new dams to avert such disasters from evolving again and again.
But how can that be possible if there is more practice in formulating policies rather than implementing them properly and honestly, as remains we are the worst implementers. One cannot lament more about losing flood water as a “precious resource” when it goes to the Arabian Sea without even being utilized.
Building and initiating new dams have been made a political issue that has caused troubles like the recent harsh famine in Thar Area killing hundreds of people. Experts are of the view that new reservoirs are crucial, given the country’s looming water and energy crises, against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, population growth, food insecurity, and growing water demand from industry. It’s now high time and need of the hour to keep our pace with
policymaking and implementing it at the same.
policymaking and implementing it at the same.
Another significant point here is to enhance the role of National Disaster Management Systems across the country which needs serious overhauling and effectiveness for acting swiftly in the wake of any tragedy. There is a tendency among the afflicted to put total reliance on aid agencies and do nothing on their own.
As it is donor fatigue is clearly visible this time around and even the public response inside
the country is far from satisfactory. The flood-affected populace will have to bear the major burden of rehabilitation if they want a quick end to their plight.
the country is far from satisfactory. The flood-affected populace will have to bear the major burden of rehabilitation if they want a quick end to their plight.
How the people of Japan who had lost everything in the earthquake and tsunami had responded to the catastrophe and did much to help them should be an example. Whereas the victims of last year’s floods are still out of doors living on the government dole. We need to have a cure for this dependency syndrome.
