From June to July, at least 234 people died in monsoon related incidents across Pakistan. At least 113 of the casualties were children.
Most of the deaths are caused by roof collapses. The rains come lashing down with such severe violence that water damage can weaken the foundations of homes to a point of collapse. As the rain falls, there are few signs that the roof is at a point of collapse.
In the past few years, the intensity and timeline of the monsoon rains have been changing rapidly. It will only get worse in the days to come. A recent study published in a leading journal called Nature concluded that Pakistan is likely to experience more frequent and severe floods due to extreme rainfall events and human-induced development encroaching on floodplains.
It is a problem that may prove to be the most critical for Pakistan in the future.
The monsoon patterns
In Pakistan, the monsoon season isn’t just a weather pattern—it’s a lifeline. For much of the country, nearly 80% of the yearly rainfall comes in a concentrated period from late June to September. This short window is critical for agriculture, which makes up a significant part of Pakistan’s economy. With over 40% of the workforce relying on farming, crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane thrive or fail based on how much rain falls during these months. The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
