While Pakistan is undergoing its worst ever floods, an immediate problem arising, even before all affectees are brought of danger, is that food shortages are beginning in the cities. Matters have not yet reached that pass, but the steady rising of prices of perishable items is a sign that matters are about to get out of control. All cities in Pakistan are under strain. All face a flood of the displaced. People are reeling under high inflation already, with rising fuel prices and power bills merely symbols of the generalized price hike making them miserable.
There is no escape but to import. In principle, this decision should be made on purely commercial considerations. However, there is apparently a powerful lobby which is arguing that extraneous considerations be applied, and India should not be imported from. Those making this argument should perhaps realize that Indian iniquities, plentiful as they are, should not become a consideration at a time like this. It should be realized that while imports from Iran and Afghanistan are useful for Balochistan and KP respectively, they are just a little too far from Punjab to be of any use in supplying perishable items. It should not be forgotten that means of communication have been washed away, so any scheme which involves long road or rail journeys is probably a bad idea. Ideally, Pakistan should use the Wagah route for the Punjab, while imports from Kashmir can supply AJK, itself severely flood affected, North Punjab and KP.
Everyone, all institutions, must realize that the new reality of climate does not allow the luxury of maintaining old rivalries. Unless the desire to avoid any benefit to Indian traders is not submerged by the desire to keep the inhabitants of Pakistan’s cities fed, we could end up cutting off our nose to spite our face, and that too at a time of national crisis.
