Encroachments on waterways worsened flood losses, says Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that hotels and houses built on waterways have turned the recent floods into a man-made disaster, stressing that “this is the time for self-accountability.”

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif pointed out that illegal constructions on riverbeds and stormwater drains blocked the natural flow of water, which forced it into residential areas, causing widespread destruction.

“In my own district, seasonal streams have wreaked havoc because people have built homes right on the drains,” he said, adding that powerful groups have even set up housing societies on river land. “Everyone knows who these people are; some of them are sitting in the Upper House,” he remarked.

The minister underlined that floods hit Pakistan every year, but encroachments make matters worse. He urged all political groups to set differences aside on national issues such as dams, saying: “Dictators built dams, but this is no time for politics — we need solutions.”

Khawaja Asif suggested building small dams that can be completed quickly, rather than waiting 10 to 15 years for mega projects. “We are letting water go down the drain. We must store it,” he stressed.

He also criticised the absence of effective local governments, particularly in Punjab. “Our local bodies are toothless. We need a strong local government system that can solve problems at the grassroots and protect communities in times of crisis.”

Asif concluded that the disaster was not entirely natural but largely man-made. “We dug our own grave by ignoring urban planning and allowing encroachments. Only a robust local government system can shield people at the ground level,” he said.