Pakistan floods: preventing future catastrophic flood disasters

This article discusses why unusually heavy monsoon rains in northern Pakistan had such a devastating impact across the entire Indus River basin. It analyses what can be done to accelerate progress towards implementation of the Hyogo Framework and what lessons can we draw from the Pakistan flooding to ensure the nation rebuilds itself in a way that can prevent a repeat of such catastrophic disasters in future years. It explores the relationship between people, the "natural environment" and the "built environment" and concludes with recommendations for the post‐disaster recovery process that incorporate disaster risk reduction and climate change measures to achieve the rebuilding of a safer, more resilient nation.