Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Chief Minister, has emphasized the need for a collective solution from both the federal government and provinces to effectively address climate change and its impacts, particularly the increasingly dangerous flood situations.
“I think the solution to this lies not just with the centre or with the provinces alone. We will need a collective solution to the threat posed by climate change,” he emphasised while talking to the press in Karachi on September 11.
He stated that officials and elected representatives are actively on the ground to monitor floods, with the Prime Minister directing the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to fully support Sindh in flood relief efforts.
Murad highlighted the importance of infrastructure, noting that bunds (embankments) were heightened after the devastating 2014 floods for better protection. He also mentioned that the historic Sukkur Barrage, built in 1932 and considered an engineering marvel, will undergo studies to potentially increase its capacity to manage floodwaters more effectively.
The CM called for a comprehensive national climate change policy, stressing that flood challenges cannot be managed by any single province or the center alone but require coordinated action due to the extreme and recurring natural disasters influenced by climate change.
Additionally, Murad assured that Sindh is prepared for the potential super flood, with round-the-clock monitoring of embankments, deployment of rescue boats, and relief camps ready for flood-affected populations.
The provincial government has raised embankments by about six feet since 2010 and is focused on protecting lives, livestock, and infrastructure like barrages against the anticipated high-volume water inflows this season.