Summary:
The article compares Pakistan’s disaster response to Nepal’s effective, low-cost, community-led landslide early warning system. Nepal uses simple rain gauges and trained local volunteers to monitor rainfall and trigger alerts at the village level, significantly reducing landslide deaths. Pakistan, despite having access to technology and knowledge, lacks political commitment and prioritization. Tragic events like Babusar’s cloudburst and floods in Islamabad highlight failures in local warnings and preparedness.

Nepal’s model relies on affordable sensors, community trust, and local coordination rather than expensive equipment. It empowers local people to act quickly, creating resilience and saving lives. Pakistan tends to treat disasters as isolated surprises and lacks localized, real-time alerts. The article argues Pakistan can adopt Nepal’s community-based system but needs commitment from authorities to coordinate with local volunteers and prioritize early warnings over bureaucratic hurdles.

In summary:

• Nepal’s community-based early warning system is low-cost and effective.
• Pakistan struggles due to lack of political will, not technology.
• Localized, real-time alerts and community involvement are key.
• Pakistan must prioritize disaster preparedness beyond issuing generic advisories.
• Investing in community training and simple sensors is cheaper and more effective than rebuilding after disasters.

Archive: https://archive.md/L2bOw