In line with the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army troops have arrived in Karachi to assist the civil administration in handling the situation arising out of the heavy rains, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Political commentators are mulling quietly over an important question; where is the Sindh government? Notably, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is in power in Sindh for more than one decade. The deteriorating situation of Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub every year during the monsoon raises serious questions about the governance model the PPP is following in the province.
Huge respect for this Pak Army Officer who rescued an injured biker by carrying on his back at Karsaz Road. #KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/1vFMmVFvmf
— Muzzy (@Muzzy789) August 8, 2020
According to the military’s media wing, Pakistan Army has started the relief operation in rain-hit Karachi. Army’s rescue teams along with de-watering pumps and other necessary equipment have started draining out water accumulated in low-lying areas of the metropolis.
Rescue teams evacuating people trapped in rainwater in different areas of the metropolis, said ISPR.
Read More: Imran Khan orders NDMA to fix rain ravaged Karachi
Earlier on July 29, Prime Minister Imran Khan had asked Pakistan Army to extend help in cleaning rain-battered Karachi. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister also directed Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal to reach Karachi immediately and oversee the cleanliness drive.
I have asked the Pak army to also help in cleaning up the city. https://t.co/xWFKghKqDa
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 29, 2020
I had asked the Pakistan army to also help in cleaning up the city, he had said while earlier saying that that he had asked the NDMA Chairman to go to Karachi immediately and start the cleanup in the aftermath of the rain.
Four dies from electrocution in Karachi
At least four people died from electrocution as the fresh spell of monsoon rainfall continued Karachi. The incidents took place in City Court, Civil Hospital, Landhi and Model Colony areas of the metropolis.
Rescue officials said that the deaths were caused due to electrocution while the persons were passing through the rainwater. The deceased persons include an eight-year-old boy Anas and the other person identified as Jawad.
Army is cleaning Karachi?
The Pakistan Army teams have also kicked off the cleanliness campaign in Karachi to assist the civil administration in removing dirt and garbage from the city’s major storm-drains.
A few days back, PM @ImranKhanPTI sent NDMA and Army to take care of Karachi before the next rain. NDMA did it’s work diligently
Proud to have a leader like Khan #KarachiStandsWithPMIK pic.twitter.com/274PJPocMB
— Bilal Sahil 🇵🇰 (@1Bilal0_) August 7, 2020
The army-run Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) personnel initiated cleaning operation at Gujjar Nullah in Nazimabad with over 50 dumpers, cranes and other machinery to remove the garbage, which had choked the flow of water in the drain during recent monsoon rainfall and submerged adjacent area.
Sindh Rangers personnel have also been deployed at the site of the drain clearance work which is led by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The garbage from the sewerage drain being immediately transferred to the landfill site. The drain clearance work has also been started at ‘Cafe Piyala’, an area in the Federal B Area of the metropolis with heavy machinery and other equipment.
Read More: Why is no money available for improving Karachi?
After the 18th amendment, argue analyst, it was made sure that the province took charge of the local issues and address them accordingly. However, the Sindh government has apparently failed to devise any mechanism to deal with the crisis it faces every year during the monsoon season in Pakistan. Apart from rains, the garbage in the country’s largest city has always been a big challenge. But it remained largely unaddressed. The federal government is not doing what the Sindh government should have done long ago, argue political analysts.