Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly criticized corruption, poor planning, and unchecked encroachments, calling the recent floods in Sialkot a “man-made disaster.”

He accused politicians, contractors, and bureaucrats of turning natural calamities into national tragedies.

The minister said the damage in his home district was far greater than it should have been, with several rural areas cut off after roads were washed away. He alleged that influential contractors, including a company linked to a sitting senator, had played a key role in what he described as the Sialkot floods mismanagement scandal. “When politics, money, and influence combine, no one can hold them accountable,” Asif remarked, adding that these projects had destroyed the city instead of protecting it.

Asif further revealed that factories and illegal housing schemes had been built inside protective embankments, accusing bureaucrats and law enforcers of being complicit. “This means even the guardians of law are involved. Many of them act like permanent rulers while their businesses flourish abroad,” he said.

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The defense minister also warned that Sialkot airport had been threatened by floodwaters from the Chenab River, urging the district administration and airport authorities to work together on preventive measures.

Calling for accountability, Asif noted that Pakistan has been hit by severe floods multiple times over the past 12 to 14 years. He blamed melting glaciers, encroachments on river belts, and unchecked construction inside riverbeds as key reasons for worsening disasters. “Sometimes we appeal to the United Nations for help, but we fail to correct our own mistakes,” he said.

Asif argued that Pakistan cannot afford to wait decades for mega dams and instead should prioritize small dams and water reservoirs across the country. “In many areas, floodwater remains stagnant for days. Without urgent reforms in governance and accountability, we will keep facing this drama every year,” he warned.

The defense minister lashed out at “political profiteering,” questioning how businessmen responsible for faulty road projects end up becoming lawmakers. He stressed that the Sialkot floods mismanagement scandal should serve as a lesson for authorities, warning that disasters will continue to devastate lives if corruption and negligence go unchecked.