Pakistan faces huge catastrophe as Zardari consolidates a dynasty.

As the full enormity of the floods in Pakistan becomes apparent it's difficult to get your head round the terrible fact that this may be but the start of an disaster that truly could be of Biblical proportions. The monsoon rains will continue for some time yet and the country faces the possibility of dams bursting, flooding on an even greater scale and even the destruction of the national irrigation system. All this takes place against a background of rising food prices due in part to the heatwave in Northern Europe and Russia but also to hedge fund gambling on expected shortages. Grain rose in price by 50% in the last month alone. Meanwhile Pakistan's President Zardari is visiting us, partly to assist Cameron in brushing up his diplomatic skills but also to attend the launch of his son Bilawal's career in politics; an event that for reasons far beyond my ken is taking place in Birmingham.