uring the months of February and March 2024, life in Balochistan was severely hit by torrential rains and consequent disruption. The areas impacted by rain included Quetta, Gwadar, Pishin, Ziarat, Mastung, Turbat, Noshki, Chaman, Ormara, Jiwani, Panjgur and Khuzdar.

Major highways and railroad connections to other parts of the country and neighbouring Iran were temporarily blocked. In some places, telecommunication services were severely affected. Connections to the rest of the province have still to be restored to the pre-disaster levels in many locations. The rains caused substantial damage to the life and property of the residents.

The poor and the vulnerable were the worst hit. Their meager assets and sources of livelihood were either damaged or swept by rainwater. Several challenges remain to be addressed in the post-rain disaster scenario.

Accessibility to most vulnerable and disaster affected regions has been greatly affected. Rehabilitation work has been directly affected due to limited road access. It may be noted that rains have become a perpetual challenge for the province.

Whether it is the monsoon rains that strike many locations with extraordinary fury or it is the winter rains, the scale of damage and destruction is mounting. The province requires a holistic rehabilitation plan with a focus on transforming infrastructure and settlements into resilient and viable assets capable of withstanding torrential rains and other disasters.

Many districts in Balochistan experience face poverty, lack of resources and poor economic outputs. Foremost among these are Sherani, Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Chaghi. It may be noted that the situation in many other districts is not much better.

Every time rain and other disasters strike, the dismal socio-economic conditions become evident. More than half of the population in the province lives in poverty. Reports from rural Balochistan indicate that more than 70 percent of the people experiencing........

© The News on Sunday