PAT President Expresses Grief over Loss of Life and Property Due to Rain in Karachi

Qazi Zahid Hussain, Central President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the recent urban flooding in Karachi caused by heavy rains, which led to loss of life and property and paralyzed daily life in the city.

In his statement, he said that in a mega city like Karachi, roads turning into ponds, water entering homes, and citizens being stuck in traffic for hours after rainfall are clear indicators of poor planning. He stated that rain is a blessing, but in Karachi, it becomes a curse due to the negligence of administrative bodies and the absence of urban planning, making the lives of citizens miserable.

Flooded roads, residential areas, and marketplaces are not only crippling daily life but also increasing the threat of epidemics. Qazi Zahid Hussain noted that after the rains, water has entered people's homes, destroying valuable belongings, and many families are left helpless, forced to live under the open sky.

He highlighted that vehicles were swept away in the water, roads were damaged, and the drainage system completely failed. He questioned how, in a city like Karachi — where billions in taxes are collected annually — citizens still suffer such conditions after rain. He stressed that despite the availability of resources, problems cannot be solved without transparent policies and a genuine spirit of public service.

Qazi Zahid Hussain termed the failure to take preventive measures and activate the drainage system before the rains as criminal negligence. He said that despite prior warnings about urban flooding, effective action was not taken. Timely cleaning of drains and improvement of the drainage system could have prevented such destruction.

Qazi Zahid called on the government to take immediate steps to provide relief to the affected population. He emphasized that a mega city like Karachi needs to adopt modern urban planning models, including cleaning of stormwater drains, a modern drainage system, effective waste management, and a comprehensive disaster management plan to deal with emergencies.

He warned that urban flooding is not just a temporary issue but could become a serious threat in the future. Without urgent action, the situation could become even more dangerous during future rains.

He also expressed concern about the potential spread of diseases like dengue, malaria, and cholera due to stagnant water and filth. He urged the Health Department to set up medical camps immediately, ensure the availability of vaccines and medicines, and declare emergency measures in hospitals.