Missing Data.

A shocking revelation has come to the fore as a top official has admitted that the government does not have district-wise data of the population affected by the recent devastating floods in the country. This of course undermines the authenticity of the Post-Disaster Need Assessment report that put the losses at over $30 billion, and also hampers the ability of authorities to deliver relief effectively. This level of incompetence and indifference is extremely concerning given the magnitude of the calamity in question.

This startling disclosure was made by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Director (Operations) Brig Muhammad Umar, while responding to a query during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance. With winter setting in, the gaps in data have left hundreds of thousands of people without basic needs such as blankets and tents.

Sindh's Khairpur district was at the centre of discussion during this meeting as it was pointed out that between 100,000 to 150,000 people have been affected by the floods, however, due to the lack of data, thousands of people in the constituency had been left at the mercy of harsh weather and in search of warm shelter and clothes to avoid being exposed to cold. While the...