Daily Times

Target 11.2 commits to ‘provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons’. According to the World Bank, there should be a 100-seater bus for every 1500 people. By that ratio, we are stuck in a position of consternation. Cities often face another inequity,for instance, the poor – who live in the outskirts of cities spend a major portion of their income on transportation. It is well known that availability of safe modes of public transport acts as an equalizer in society – by putting a halt to gender inequality. This is especially prudent in the scenario of Pakistan where women face harassment and intimidation whilst travelling – and this results in a vicious cycle where such attitude further strengthens the deep rooted patriarchal mindsets – which further impedes women’s mobility and thus their progress. Nevertheless, one positive situation is that some of our public transportation – such as the Metro and Speedo buses in Lahore and Multan cater to the disability needs of the population.

Target 11.5 commits us to ‘significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations’. For the Long-Term Climate Risk Index (CRI), Pakistan is at the fifth place for the countries most affected for the period 1999 to 2018 (annual averages). According to a report by the Asian Development Bank, Pakistan suffered from 21 major floods between 1950 and 2011 – these floods have altogether caused economic losses totaling $19 billion. A 2010 report by the World Food Programme stated that the floods in 2010 killed more than 1700 people and 7.8 million people became vulnerable to lasting food insecurity. Annual heavy rains lead to a large number of casualties as well a loss of homes and destruction of crops and a loss of livelihoods for millions of people. All this puts an additional burden of national exchequer.

Synergies between National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) are a need of the time

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) in Pakistan does a reasonable job in predicting floods. So an essential stepping stone is in place. This relevant information needs to be transformed into actionable policy by the government and relevant stakeholders. Actions need to be broken down into short, medium and long term actions; building reservoirs and dams are good long term actions. Yearly reminders as well as the pandemic are enough to expose our weaknesses and shortcomings at the lack of infrastructure for water storage. Other than floods, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warns citizens about the temperature increments – but again that does not do much to protect the citizens from the lethal heat waves that have increased worldwide and inflict a detrimental cost to our society. Those at the risk of heatwaves and other climatic conditions are those that are already living in congested settlements and are elderly, disabled or are children. Currently, amidst the blame game politics and the big question of ‘whose responsibility is it’ refrains us from achieving a meaningful response to all this. The recent torrential rain in Karachi has destroyed the facade of urban life. It has simultaneously highlighted the seriously flawed drainage, underground sewers and poorly constructed roads and underpasses in the city. All this monsoon rain coupled with the accumulated waste in the city will wreak havoc on the health and daily lives of citizens.

Our policies have to move on to tweaking the coding of our economy. An increased usage of ICTs by government departments can help in increasing better governance, coordination and management. Different departments and committees need to find a balance between management of the centre, provinces and the local levels. The concept of inclusivity in our cities is lost. In the smart cities of the future – how the residents would utilize the technology to their gains will determine their productivity. Hence we need targeted efforts at jettisoning our amplified digital divide. This could end our spatial and economic inequality as well.

Siphoning off huge amounts in the form of rental payments has become an instrument of wealth creation by the privileged few. Community leaders, local and provincial governments and different union officials need to come together to put a halt to the populistic provision of services and focus on deprived areas the most. Instead of building small marla houses, vertical housing is another possible solution – provided it is of sufficient quality – accompanied by the additional ownership to people in nominal charges. Our transportation systems should be developed to cover industrial and major urban areas to solve the problem of mobility. We should aim at building infrastructure that are climate-resilient and improve the lives of this generation and that of our future generation. Furthermore, our mitigation strategies and preparedness need more targeted efforts than the early warning system. Synergies between National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) are a need of the time.

There should be properly defined definitions and methodologies across different departments involved to track the required data locally. Government officials can collaborate with independent researchers and private organizations for speeded efforts at data collection and management by new methods and technological components. Moreover, scattered data sets across different private and government organizations should be integrated into a comprehensive database. Satellite imagery and other use of technology should be facilitated to collect data. Extensive data collection through geographic information systems (GIS) is an international practice too. Google Streetview can be utilized in this regard to fill data gaps. Mobile phone metadata can also be employed here to see development in a region. Thus research efforts need to be boosted for targeted interventions. In the path to our recovery, we should remember what the former UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said that ‘the battle for sustainable development will be won or lost in cities’.

Dr Izza Aftab is the chairperson of the Economics Department at IT University, Lahore / Noor Ul Islam is currently working as a Research Associate at the SDG Tech Lab established in collaboration with IT University, Lahore