Disaster and development

During the last century many parts of world developed at a very fast pace in terms of industrialization, urbanization, development of mega infrastructure and modernization of agriculture. No doubt this development brought prosperity for residents who are enjoying high incomes and better living standards. However this development is neither sustainable nor equitable as its fruits could not be equitably disturbed among all countries of the world and communities within a particular country. Moreover this development is being fueled by a massive exploitation of natural resources with little care for their conservation and sustainable use. 

It is now widely recognized that climate change is triggering unpredictability of weather systems and thus climate-induced natural hazards including cyclones, floods, tornadoes, storms, sea level rise, droughts and extinction of many floral and faunal species. Various development projects like nuclear plants, big industrial units, mega dams, irrigation systems, highways and the so-called green revolution have also resulted in number of hazards and disasters. For instance the green revolution that needs consistent input of chemical fertilisers, hybrid seeds and pesticides has actually exhausted the productive capacity of agricultural lands in many and other human development parts of world including Pakistan. The world's largest irrigation system which Pakistan is always proud of, has Created inter provincial conflicts on irrigation water, resulted indegradation of Indus delta, and has rendered thusands of hectares of land waterlogged and salinity hit. The unchecked air and water pollution caused by industrial activity, vehicular emissions and etc. seepage of contaminated water into aquifers is causing a variety of health problems including diarrhoea, various forms of cancers, lung diseases, tuberculosis and so on.