What's wrong with Mother Nature? Different parts of the world are facing the fury of climate change. A study shows fires are burning nearly twice as much forest as 20 years ago. Droughts are affecting cultivation in crop hubs of the world, threatening our food security. Floods are ravaging human settlements. Sylhet in Bangladesh had a bout of it recently. A country like the United Arab Emirates also was not spared.
Now it's Pakistan's turn to face the vagaries of Mother Nature. One-third of the country is now under flood water. Buildings have collapsed. Bridges have collapsed. Cars have been washed away. The strong current of gushing water from upstream areas is washing away everything on its path. So far more than 1,000 people have been killed. Millions have been displaced. The planning minister in Pakistan has claimed that the flooding has inflicted losses to the tune of $ 10 billion.
The US, Turkey and other countries of the world are coming up with aid. The government also is reaching out to the flood victims with available resources. It has appealed to the affluent section to help the people in need. As usual, former prime minister Imran Khan once again has showed his innovative style of doing things. He announced to hold a live telethon on a TV channel to raise funds for the flood victims. But the authorities in the government have banned live telecast of any programme of Mr Khan. He went to court, got the permission and then went live with the telethon on Monday night. Telephone numbers for conversation with Mr Khan and bank account numbers for donations to relief funds were flashed on the TV screen. People phoned in from home and abroad, talked to Mr Khan and announced their contributions to the funds. Within two and a half hours the contributions ran as high as Rs 5.2 billion (520 crore), unprecedented in Pakistan's history. That showed the strength of a nation, when united. As it was a phone-in programme, maybe, many more might have not reached the phone numbers at the studio. If they could, the contributions might have been far higher.
In Pakistan's politics, Imran Khan is always innovative. He does things in his own style. Unlike the practices in South Asia, he holds his public meetings at night. The reason is: it does not halt the industrial production nor it blocks the traffic. Families including women and children participate in the rallies. They bring foods with them, share them with others as if in a picnic party. Alongside the political leaders there are singers who sing to the amusement of the human sea. It's a different experience.
Unlike others in the region he raised funds for his party by hosting dinners. This is a very transparent way which is very important for a political party before it gets going. Unless the political system is transparent, the going gets tough for a nation.
As mentioned above, live telecast of Imran's speeches on TV channels was banned. Imran could easily slap a similar ban on his political opponents in the provinces ruled by his PTI (four of the five provinces except Sindh are ruled by the PTI). But he did not do it. For, he does believe in freedom of speech. That is how Imran Khan has made a difference in Pakistan's politics. He has proved his mettle even amid a disaster like the flood that has stunned the country.
