The burden of climate change | Political Economy

alochistan is one of the most vulnerable regions in terms of climate-induced disasters. It is also one of the least equipped to deal with those.

Those affected by the 2022 floods and torrential rains triggered by climate change had yet to be rehabilitated when another spell of heavy rainfall and fierce hailstorms knocked at the door.

The size of the recent hailstorm has shocked the residents of Balochistan. For the local farmers, it wasn’t simply a hailstorm but a real climate challenge.

In the Khuzdar area of Wadh, the hail damaged a solar panel mounted on a tubewell, broke a PVC pipe and shattered vehicle and shop windows.

The standing crops ready for harvest in several districts of Balochistan were adversely affected; Khuzdar area of Wadh, Loralai, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, Ziarat, and Harnai are listed as affected areas.

The aftermath of climatic disasters devastates the local economy. Livestock and agriculture are among the two key sectors that suffer huge losses, adding to the troubles of the calamity-hit regions and their inhabitants.

The crops destroyed by heavy rains and unprecedented hail included wheat, cotton and vegetables like peppers, garlic and onions. Fruit crops, including grapes, pomegranate, cherries and apricots were also destroyed.

Ghulam Nabi, 55, a resident of Wadh, is a small land holding farmer. His only source of livelihood is farming on a few hectares. He says he had never seen such a hailstorm in his life. “This is the second year all our cotton and vegetable crops have been destroyed by unexpected rain and heavy hail,” he says.

Nabi hopes that the provincial government will compensate the farmers. Otherwise, he says, there is going to be a food shortage.

Taimoor Shah Durrani, a PhD scholar at Environmental Science Department, Buitem University, describes the changes in monsoon patterns a seasonal shift in the weather system. He says, “Balochistan is receiving unexpected rainfall in the summer season due to climate change.”

He adds, “Cloud bursts, torrential rain, flash floods, and glacial melting caused by the environmental change are hard to predict. These can bring instant destruction.

Durrani tells The News on Sunday, “The provincial government needs to take mitigating measures and develop research-based policies to overcome the environment-related concerns in Balochistan.”

The government of Balochistan has allocated only Rs 1.23 billion for the five environmental-related projects in the PSDP 2022-2023. Only one new project has been added to the 2022-2023 PSDP; the rest of the projects have been continuing since 2019. Over the last five years, the provincial government has completed only two projects that only include feasibility studies, proposals, identification of the sites, and design.

The 2022 flash floods wreaked havoc across Balochistan. According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) data between June 1 and October 30, 2022, there were 336 rain-related deaths. Another 187 people were injured. 475,721.3 acers of agricultural land came under flash floods and 434,424 livestock perished. The number of damaged houses stood at 115,822. 2,221.98 kilometres of roads were damaged and 58 road bridges collapsed.

According to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) more than 116,000 people in Balochistan are still registered as displaced.

31 out of 34 districts were officially declared calamity-hit in 2022 following the monsoon-driven floods.

The aftermath of climatic disasters devastated the local economy. Livestock and agriculture were the two sectors that suffered huge losses, adding to the troubles of the calamity-hit regions and their inhabitants.

The writer is a freelance journalist. He tweets @Jaffar_Journo