Due to the national and international media's lack of focus, Pakistan's growth-stimulating factors and a significant source of foreign exchange gains are currently falling.

Abstract

The market dynamics and climate hazards are causing rural populations, especially those in emerging nations, to experience continuous losses in income and crop output. In Punjab, Pakistan, farmers' views of market and climate risks and their coping mechanisms are the focus of this study's special investigation. According to a recent global assessment, Pakistan is one of the ten nations with the highest risk of natural disasters for its citizens, mostly as a result of its corrupt government, poor infrastructure, and failure to successfully execute risk-reduction measures. Verisk Maplecroft, a risk management company with offices in the UK, ranked the world's riskiest countries, with Pakistan coming in at number seven with 136 million (or 70%) of its population at risk.

Keywords : Monsoon Rains' Disaster relief Situation, Consequences of Flooding on Economic Growth, Role of Digital Media in Flood Situations

Background

Pakistan is situated in a dangerous area and is subjected to a variety of natural disasters, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, and droughts. The most frequent causes of increased vulnerability to natural disasters include rapid population growth, unchecked development, and unregulated infrastructure expansion. In Pakistan, from June to September each year, the monsoon season causes varying amounts of rainfall. Floods, such as flash floods, riverine floods, and urban floods, are among the most frequent natural occurrences. When combined with other powerful hazards like cloudbursts, landslides, and GLOFs (Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods), they can become disasters that present numerous difficulties for the nation's disaster management system. While a drought-like scenario is caused by lower rainfall in some regions of the country. A comprehensive and pro-active multi-sectoral strategy and reaction are needed to effectively address all connected difficulties, keeping in mind the existing scenario in the districts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh as well as the ongoing monsoon season.

Introduction

In Pakistan, the average farmer has less than 3 ha of land, while more than 55% of farmers have less than 2 ha. Land intensification has, however, emerged as a significant and pressing issue as both rural and urban populations have grown. Therefore, this is the reason why several cropping systems are being used intensively on highly fragmented land, and the annual cropping pattern has changed from a short fallow to a long fallow. Uneven rural-urban population density is making this issue worse and contributing to the food insecurity it is causing.

Presently, Bangladesh (0.0499) is rated 157th in the world, Pakistan (0.118) is ranked 111st, and India (0.129) is ranked 104th in terms of per-capita land distribution per hectare. The situation is grave, particularly in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. 60% of the land in India receives its nourishment from rain; 81% of farmers in Bangladesh have plots of land smaller than 2 ha, and 5% of its farmers are considered small farmers.

Because each 1% rise in per-capita agricultural growth results in 1.5% increases in per-capita non-agricultural growth, a strong agricultural sector always strengthens the economy. The population and the growth of the agricultural sector are closely related; a large population increases the amount of land used per unit of people. However, in the modern world, farmers are expected to produce an appropriate output with the available resources. As a result, during the second part of the twentieth century, farmers have switched from lengthy fallow to short fallow and from yearly cropping to numerous cropping cycles per year (Headey et al. 2010).

Two agricultural models have been surfacing since the late 1980s and early 1990s as a result of the integration of this globalization. The first is an industrial model that encourages the use of land-intensive farming with high inputs and outputs in order to achieve high production. As a result of the development of biotechnology, south Asian nations were able to access the global capital market. The substitute strategy is quality food production and sustainable agriculture (Gilan C Filson 2005).

Poor literacy rates, high population densities, and increased age dependence ratios are on the rise more than ever in these economies as a result of persistent rural poverty. The fact that millions of people from rural areas are landless farmers and are on the verge of destitution puts a lot of strain on South Asia's agriculture sector. This is particularly true considering that the region's natural resource base is under pressure due to population development, high demand for staple foods, an increase in temperature, and water scarcity. Smaller economic profit is eventually the result for farm owners.

Critical Gaps in the Details

Missing a counterbalance to the rise in temperature brought on by a decrease in transpiration.

greater than the nation's carrying capacity given the proportion of its natural resources (i.e., agricultural land, availability of fresh and safe drinking water, and forest).

India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.

South Asia, Central America, and East and West Africa.

Increased urban demand results in greater rural-urban migration since increased population growth and density speed up the expansion of nonfarm enterprises that are strongly related to urban markets.

Urban sprawl, also known as sprawl or suburban sprawl, is the quick geographic spread of cities and towns; it is frequently characterized by single-use zoning, low-density residential housing, and an increased reliance on private automobiles.

Monsoon Rains' Disaster relief Situation

Since the monsoon season began, Pakistan has only had three weeks to get 60% of the typical amount of monsoon rainfall. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh Provinces have been notably affected by the urban and flash floods, landslides, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) brought on by the heavy rainfall. According to a report from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) dated July 28th, since July 1st, 357 people have died as a result of the current floods (including 140 children, 158 men, and 59 women), and 408 people have been injured, including 208 men, 122 women, and 78 children. In addition, 23,792 houses have been damaged (including 19450 completely and 6042 partially), 977 KM of road infrastructure have disappeared, 52 bridges have collapsed, 8 shops have been destroyed, and 1787 animals have perished.

The current monsoon rains and floods have severely damaged the Baluchistan and Sindh districts; according to PDMA Balochistan, 106 people have died (including 42 men, 30 women, and 34 children) and 62 have suffered severe injuries. In the meantime, 580 KM of road infrastructure have disappeared, 11 Bridges have fallen, and 16698 dwellings have been damaged (including 15566 entirely and 2832 partially). According to the PDMA, Sind reported 90 fatalities (39 men, 5 women, and 46 children), as well as 51 people who suffered serious injuries. Additionally, 388.5 KM of road infrastructure has disappeared, 03 stores have been destroyed, and 3 bridges have fallen. 3,953 houses have been damaged, including 1,417 that have been entirely and 2536 that have been partially damaged.

Images and images showing countless dead children floating in floodwater, dead mothers trapped in muck, and hundreds of thousands of people trapped in flowing water without shelter, food, water, or emergency medications have deeply broken my heart. The majority of the time, entire cities in Balochistan and Southern Punjab have drowned, leaving residents with nowhere to go. A normal rainstorm that caused damage in Pakistan still has 100,000 people at its mercy.

According to estimates, each year's floods alone affect roughly one million people and cost the economy $2.7 billion. According to a professional analysis given to the Ministry of Climate Change, the local populace has taken up significant portions of almost 50% of the Indus flood plans. Local officials have encouraged the expansion of these boundaries. Within the flood zone, even roads and electrical installations have been built.

Consequences of Flooding on Economic Growth

Heavy rains have been demonstrated to have significant consequences on global economic growth, especially in argi-based nations where flood rush damages agricultural productivity (both cash and staple crops) (Bang et al., 2018). Additionally, the negative consequences of floods on rural agricultural production rise as communities alter the rural landscape by moving close to river catchments. This disturbance to the natural landscapes changed the water velocity and stream courses, resulting in deforestation and soil erosion (Wheater and Evans 2009).

Groundwater Risk

Government involvement is required during floods to lessen the immediate harm that flooding causes to crops and food supplies, which could otherwise cause poverty to increase. Global research have shown that the loss of a means of subsistence and the deterioration of the economic situation deplete savings. Following floods, rural regions experience an increase in poverty as a result of debt that has been accrued at high interest rates (Yamin et al., 2005). Floods' detrimental effects on income loss are a common trend among low-wage earners, and as a result, the (relatively) impoverished HHs suffer more economically because these poor families have few resources to spend (Huang et al. 2008).

Role of Digital Media in Flood Situations

The fact that people are dying in Pakistan is not being covered by Pakistani social media, which is still focused on the circumstances surrounding Imran Khan and the military's relationship with the Qatari government.Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra also extended imran Khan's interim release on a charge of unlawful assembly until September 7 in exchange for a bond of 5,000 Pakistani rupees ($22.8).

The three people Khan was accused of threatening did not press charges, according to Khan's attorney Babar Awan, who spoke to the courtroom's full attendance.

Khan's comments from the event were repeated by Awan, who questioned why Khan's remark, "'have some shame,' which is widely used informally, is considered threatening."

After a brief hearing, the court delayed the case and granted interim bail while also sending letters to the prosecution and the PTI's attorneys for their responses.

A draught deal allowing the government to send troops to Qatar in November for the FIFA football World Cup has been approved by the cabinet of Pakistan. On Monday, Pakistan's minister of information, Mariyum Aurangzeb, declared that the Cabinet had approved the draught agreement for sending troops to Qatar for the massive event, which is planned to take place from November 21 to December 18. The Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ) requested the agreement's signature, and neither the foreign ministry nor the Directorate General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had any objections, according to a report in The Express Tribune daily. The Cabinet then approved the proposal

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The Prerequisites for Effective Transboundary Water Governance

When strong and trustworthy organisations control transnational floods through a process of agreed-upon regulations and operational processes, the impact of flooding can be significantly mitigated (Bakker, 2007; Norman & Bakker, 2013).The best practises for transboundary FRM include information sharing, transparent agreements, coordinated efforts, local expertise, and trust (Norman & Bakker, 2013; Swanenvleugel, 2012).In handling the complexity of issues like uncertainty, an integrated setting where stakeholders have a common understanding of the challenges, comparable mindsets, and similar roles can be especially useful (Bernauer, 2002; Clamen, 2013).

The Pakistani Government will Issue a Global Appeal.

In order to address the dreadful flood situation in the nation brought on by unrelenting rain, which has resulted in the deaths of 830 people, the Pakistani government has decided to launch an international appeal.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made this decision during an urgent briefing on the flood disaster in Pakistan on Tuesday, according to Dawn News.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called to the nation to support the flood-affected people in addition to looking externally for assistance to lessen the destruction caused by extraordinary monsoon rainfall, as the government needed hundreds of billions to rehabilitate the victims.

Observing School Children

Disasters disproportionately harm children, both immediately and long-term, especially in underdeveloped nations. Due to their lack of resources, inadequate preparation, and lack of awareness of their potential, children in rural areas are more likely to experience hardship. While many kids still ask their parents or other adults for assistance in emergencies, a child's attitude, awareness, and level of preparedness are just as crucial.Millions of children's lives, rights, and needs are at risk due to disasters throughout the world. If society or the government is unable to comprehend the dangers that disasters represent to the welfare of the children, it will be impossible to protect their interests.

Public Impression of Flood Risk

Severe natural hazards include floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, and droughts in the current world situation (Eckstein et al., 2018; Verlynde et al., 2019; Ahmad and Afzal, 2020). Compared to other risks, floods are thought to be more destructive and cyclical (UNDP, 2016; Teo et al., 2021). (Shah et al., 2021). The severity of floods contributes significantly to social hazards, economic losses, and societal mortality, which are regularly exposed by humans (Aldrich and Metaxa, 2018; Ahmad et al., 2019). In 2017, these disasters had an impact on more than 96 million people, with floods accounting for 60% of those impacts (Emergency Event Database, 2017). Bangladesh, India, China, and Pakistan are among the Asian nations dubbed as the "supermarkets of floods" (Diakakis et al., 2018; Ahmad and Afzal, 2021)

Conclusion

In just three weeks after the monsoon season began in July, Pakistan has received more than 60% of its annual average monsoon rainfall. Urban and flash floods, landslides, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) have all been brought on by the country's heavy rainfall; Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Sindh provinces have been particularly hard hit.

According to reports, more than 1 million people have been impacted, especially in the provinces of Sindh (436,000), Balochistan (360,000), and Punjab (119,000). Rainfall has surged by 267% in Balochistan and 183% in Sindh compared to pre-monsoon averages, resulting in significant harm to people's lives, infrastructure, and way of life.

At least 580 people have died as a result of the extreme weather, including 224 children and 114 women, according to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Additionally, 939 people have been injured, including 194 children and 273 women. According to reports, about 23,000 people have been forced from their houses, with about 8,200 of them living in Sindh, 7,000 in Balochistan, 4,700 in Punjab, and 3,000 in KP. Bridges, train lines, and roads have also been obstructed by floodwaters and debris flows, limiting overland transport to and from the impacted areas. Since June 14, it is estimated that 50,000 houses—10,000 of them completely—along with 3,000 kilometres of road, 42 businesses, and 119 bridges have sustained damage.

The NDMA estimates that 107,000 animals, including 29,000 large ruminants, have died as a result of the floods. Livestock, a major source of employment in Balochistan, is also a significant source of nourishment, with animal products used as staple foods. Additionally, according to the Pakistan Food Security and Agriculture Working Group (FSAWG), the recent floods have harmed over 1,000 animal shelters and over 1 million acres of crops. In Balochistan's flood-affected areas, about 955,000 people are expected to experience acute food insecurity between July and November 2022 (IPC Phases 3 and 4), including about 594,000 people in districts that were completely flooded (Gwadar, Nushki, Pangur, and other nearby places).

Recommenditions

Plantations are the best answer to this issue. Plantations are actually man-made forests; some species, such as mangroves and eucalyptus, are highly beneficial since they naturally shield us from natural disasters like floods, tidal waves, and tsunamis.

In order to enhance collection and storage while lowering surface runoff, trees are planted in drainage basins through the process of "aforestation." This lessens a river's outflow, which lessens the likelihood that it may flood.

Utilizing man-made structures like dams and embankments is referred to as hard engineering management. Soft engineering management, like flood plain zoning, is a more organic way to regulate flooding.

Managing floods Some flood control techniques date back to ancient times. These techniques include creating floodways, terracing hillsides to restrict flow downwards, and growing vegetation to capture extra water (man-made channels to divert floodwater).

Risk can be decreased in already developed areas by altering flood behaviour (for instance, through the construction of dams, detention basins, levees, and changes to the waterways), altering properties (for instance, by filling in unused land, raising houses, and removing developments), and altering responses.

Refrences

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