Malaika Raza deeply saddened over tragic loss of lives in monsoon rains

Celina Ali

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Human Rights Cell General Secretary Malaika Raza Friday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives caused by recent monsoon rains across the country, calling for immediate and strategic climate resilience measures to prevent further devastation.

In a statement, Raza extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the rains and emphasized that the increasing intensity and frequency of such weather events are clear indicators of a growing climate crisis.

“Climate change has become a formidable challenge for Pakistan,” she warned, highlighting the severe urban flooding witnessed in low-lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. “This rainfall is not an isolated incident but a symptom of an escalating environmental emergency.”

Raza stressed the need to incorporate environmental considerations into urban planning, urging authorities to reimagine infrastructure with climate resilience in mind. “We must no longer treat floods and heavy rains as seasonal anomalies — they are becoming the new normal,” she noted.

Referring specifically to the Potohar region, Raza expressed concern that it may face the most severe impact from torrential rains in the coming weeks. She called on disaster management authorities to accelerate relief efforts in the affected regions and to ensure preparedness across all provinces. “Other provinces must also brace for emergency situations as the monsoon system unfolds,” she added.

The PPP leader advocated for a comprehensive national climate strategy backed by effective and modernized response mechanisms. “We can no longer afford ad hoc solutions. It’s time to adopt robust and forward-looking policies to protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems,” Raza added.