Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik have agreed to establish a coordinated early warning system for forecasting extreme weather events across the province. The decision was made during a meeting on Thursday, where officials reviewed a proposal to install climate and flood-related centralized information screens at district and tehsil levels in collaboration with the federal government.
Key Agreements and Timelines
It was agreed that coordination between relevant authorities would begin at least six hours before any expected extreme weather event. The chief minister instructed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to strengthen coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure seamless information sharing and response.
CM Maryam Nawaz also directed officials to ensure controlled tourism during periods of extreme heat and heavy rainfall, and ordered the issuance of comprehensive advisories to the public. She emphasized enhancing district-level logistics for responding to floods and other severe weather events.
Provincial Investments and Infrastructure
The chief minister stated that the provincial government is investing billions of rupees to enhance water storage capacity. She noted that Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and solid waste management services, once limited to Lahore, have now been expanded across the province. Machinery for tackling urban flooding, previously dispatched from major cities, has now been provided to every district.
“The frequency of severe and unpredictable climate events has increased alarmingly,” the CM said, highlighting the need for proactive measures.
Federal Support and Coordination
According to an official statement, Dr Musadik Malik acknowledged that while there had been limited time to respond to last year's flood triggered by Indian water aggression, Punjab authorities performed effectively. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed all provincial governments to work jointly on climate change planning, assuring Punjab of full federal support.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb noted that unlike previous years, the government had alerted all departments well before the monsoon season, ensuring preparedness.
Comprehensive Climate Strategy
Officials said the government is implementing short-, medium-, and long-term plans to address climate change and natural disasters, and has prepared a three-year strategy. The Punjab government introduced the country’s first climate-tagged budget, allocating funds specifically for climate resilience.
All flood-damaged irrigation infrastructure in Punjab has been restored, vulnerable points have been mapped, and the capacity of barrages has been enhanced. Province-wide alerts are being issued for heatwaves and other severe weather events, while fodder, water, medicines, and mobile veterinary dispensaries have been deployed in vulnerable districts.
The livestock and dairy development department has been restructured to better respond to climate impacts, and Rescue 1122 has received modern navigation systems for efficient emergency response.
Local-Level Preparedness
Participants were informed that union council-level field formations and warehouses have been established in vulnerable districts to ensure rapid response. Work on the Jalalpur flood protection embankment is expected to be completed by July 31, providing critical protection against flooding.
