Khawaja Asif Blames Flood Devastation on Encroachments, Calls for Small Dams

Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that the real cause of flood-related destruction is not rainfall but **commercial and residential constructions on waterways and riverbeds**. Speaking in the National Assembly, he urged authorities to avoid blaming natural calamities on divine will, stressing that “rain is a blessing, not a disaster.”

The minister said massive damage occurs because **housing societies, hotels, and settlements have been built on natural water channels and river paths**, particularly in areas like Sialkot. He highlighted that encroachments and unauthorized construction on river lands have intensified the impact of floods.

Khawaja Asif warned against relying solely on mega projects such as Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams, which take **10–15 years to complete**, and instead called for the construction of **small dams at the village level** as part of a national water management strategy. “If we wait only for big dams, everything may be lost in the meantime,” he cautioned.

The minister also criticized the lack of consistent local government elections, pointing out that the last municipal polls were held in 2015. He said political parties treat local bodies as tools for power rather than strengthening them for public relief. “Just as the political system must be strengthened, the local government system also needs to be made effective,” he stressed.