Lahore Chamber calls for measures to control floods

Loss of billions of dollars

LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for precautionary measures to control the devastating floods, which cause loss of billions of dollars to the national exchequer every year, besides claiming thousands of lives.

In a statement, LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad said that the recent floods in Chitral killed over 40 people, dozens went missing, while hundreds displaced, which is an alarming bell. If measures are not taken, floods would continue to harm the national economy.

The LCCI president said that first of all flood warning system should be improved on war footings to inform the people well before time.

He said that advanced flood warning system and preplanning would considerably reduce the impact of floods.

Arshad said that water reservoirs are one of the best solutions to control floods, but it is a matter of concern that least attention is being given towards this.

No big dam has been constructed for over last four decades, while water storage capacity of the existing dams is decreasing with the passage of time, he said.

A large amount of floodwater could be stored in Kalabagh Dam, but it has been made controversial, he said, adding that the Kalabagh Dam should be constructed at any cost, as it would store rainwater and floods could be avoided.

Floods have caused a collective loss of around $40 billion, he said, adding that if Kalabagh Dam was constructed a few years ago, this loss could have been avoided.

He urged the government to start work on the Kalabagh Dam without further delay.

The climate changes and reduction in forestry area are also biggest reasons of rising flood graph in Pakistan, Arshad said, adding that the issue of climate changes should be handled carefully, as it had already caused huge damage to the economy and could be severe further in the near future.

There is a dire need to stop deforestation in Pakistan, as trees not only manage environmental issues, but also control floods.

He said that deforestation has caused a rapid rise in the pollution level and distortion of natural order.  Trees should be declared environmental commodity and not just as an item for fuel, he added.