Literature is the collection of
human expression using different genres. Tragedy, melodrama, irony, comedy or
farce, all depictions are the encapsulations of time, history and events in
prose.
All the time human beings are passing through some of these literary
experiences. Strange to note, even scientific discoveries come under the
influence of either of these. Every scientist of intent has to be immersed in
the romanticism of discovery through sensory perception.
Pakistan is facing a challenge about which very little awareness exists in the
society. Climate change or the weather shenanigans are now unleashed in its
different manifestations. Like all the developing countries our wannabes are
taking it as something which will only affect the developed world.
Chicken have already come home to roost, the effects have started appearing, but
the naysayers are still adamant that this is just a whiff of passing clouds.
Pakistan is endowed with a very benevolent weather system that depends upon the
Monsoons from the Indian Ocean and their harvesting at Himalayas.
The snow caps of Northern Areas are one of the biggest reservoirs of fresh
water, which is available throughout the year. Pakistan is an agrarian economy,
70 percent of its population is directly and another 20 percent indirectly
linked to agriculture. When Monsoon fails the society is at the Precipice; now
when the glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, the existence of complete
lower riparian is in jeopardy.
The Indians probably sensed the same a decade ago and made several reservoirs
upon our rivers, when we were busy in our political tangos back stage. No more
time left for any other polka event. In stratosphere, the ozone over Pakistan is
depleting with an alarming speed, the data from ozone stations around the world
dating 1987-2013 proves this disturbing development.
This is enough reality to keep every Pakistani up at night, but the slumber is
the only thing we see as our strategy to face the upcoming challenges. The
recent five days rains which affected the wheat crop is the result of al-Nino.
This is not where it stops; it might also result in the decreased Monsoon this
year, as the jet streams over the Pacific oceans have shed the moisture leaving
the Monsoon to be very weak in intensity.
The harvesting of rice over an ever increased area is also resulting into the
green house effect as the methane from rice fields are acting as additional
warmer to the already heated blanket. In Pakistan even climate velocity has
started taking place. Climate velocity is a term not even known to the climate
savvy minority of the country.
The animals are migrating from their habitats rather they are moving up the
country. The pigs from Margallas and surroundings have moved towards Murree
Hills; the mountain crows who where usually seen in areas at around 4,000 feet
are now only seen at around 6,000 and above.
The monkeys from the hills are desperately in search of more food as the shrebs
in the mountain are withering away due to rise in temperature. This all is
happening in Pakistan some 30 kilometers away from the capital.
This disturbing phenomenon is the climate velocity. The effect of climate change
is now threatening the security of Pakistan. The failure of crops, mass
migrations, populations stress and rising temperatures will unhinge the social
fabric of already ethnically divided society.
Security threats are dealt with a mechanism which starts from realization of the
problem, the measures to correct the deviations and a long term strategy to
tackle; all of these things are missing in dealing with the climate vows of
Pakistan.
World has moved beyond the terminologies of green house gases or
chloro-floro-carbons. This is the age of global commons. In Pakistan's security
calculus the global commons is a missing concept which is still not a priority.
The state was fighting the menace of terrorism, which has challenged its
authority. As now due to the success of Zarb-e-Aazb, it is time to concentrate
on effects of climate change. The principle of adaptation and mutual restrain
will not be effective if the people are not made aware of the coming danger.
During coming decades the Pakistani people might have to face the much less
availability of water, erratic weather, droughts, pest and viral infestations
and the rising poverty. All these issues come under the realm of national
security, now is the time to launch the climatic facet of zarb-a-azab.
Even after having a feel of climatic change, we do not respond as a nation. Then
the history will write a literary irony depicting us as a nation which was
reading a transcript of action from 17th century circa the broad day light of
21st century.