Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to intensify preparations for the upcoming monsoon season, ordering the establishment of a national emergency response mechanism and stressing that coordinated action is essential to mitigate the growing risks posed by climate change.
Emergency Response Committee Approved
Chairing a high-level meeting to review monsoon preparedness and climate resilience, the prime minister said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and stressed that effective and comprehensive cooperation between the federation and the provinces was critical to address climate-related disasters. The prime minister also approved the formation of an ‘Emergency Response Committee’ which would be headed by the minister for Planning and Development. The committee, comprising the NDMA and representatives of relevant federal ministries, will work in close coordination with the provincial authorities and hold weekly meetings throughout the monsoon season to monitor preparedness and response efforts, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
He also asked the minister for finance to complete advance arrangements for an emergency fund that could be mobilized in the event of severe monsoon-related disasters. The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Adviser to the PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chairman WAPDA, chief secretaries of all provinces and senior officials from relevant government departments.
Preparedness Measures and Flood Mitigation
As part of the preparedness measures, the prime minister directed the federal minister for Climate Change and the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to undertake emergency visits to all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the current week to assess and finalize monsoon preparedness. He further emphasized that projects financed by the international development partners should also focus on strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of national and local institutions and departments.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to water security, the prime minister mentioned an allocation of additional Rs330 billion in the current fiscal year’s federal budget to accelerate the completion of major water infrastructure projects. Recalling the lessons learned from previous flood emergencies, the prime minister directed all the relevant institutions to implement a comprehensive flood mitigation roadmap. He further directed the provincial governments to remove illegal encroachments and resolve other obstacles in the river channels and flood pathways, particularly in those districts identified as highly vulnerable to flooding. He also instructed all federal and provincial institutions to deploy their full administrative and technical resources to facilitate the public throughout the monsoon season.
NDMA Briefing on Weather Risks
During the meeting, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed participants on the country’s preparedness measures, expected weather patterns, flood risks, and evolving climate trends. According to the briefing, extreme heatwaves and unusual climatic conditions are expected across many parts of the world this year. Pakistan is also forecast to experience prolonged heatwaves and above-normal rainfall during July, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable regions. The NDMA informed the meeting that all necessary contingency measures were being implemented under a comprehensive preparedness strategy.
First Monsoon Spell Brings Relief and Warnings
Monsoon rains accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms brought much-needed relief from the prevailing hot and humid weather in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and several upper and central parts of the country on Wednesday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting more rain across these regions on Thursday. Rain-windstorms and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, occurred in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan. In the federal capital, rain that started in the evening continued intermittently with gaps till night, lowering temperatures and providing respite from the heat.
The Met Office said rain-windstorms and thundershowers, accompanied by isolated heavy falls, are expected on Thursday in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan, while hot and humid weather is likely to persist over other parts of the country. It said partly cloudy weather with rain-windstorms and thundershowers, along with isolated heavy falls, is expected in Islamabad and adjoining areas during the day.
Flash Flood and Landslide Risks
According to the PMD, heavy rainfall during Wednesday night and Thursday may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir, besides causing flash flooding in local streams and nullahs. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan may also experience flash flooding. The department further warned that heavy downpours could lead to urban and flash flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad during the forecast period. It also cautioned that windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles and billboards, and advised the public to take necessary precautions during thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
PM Directs OPF to Expedite Welfare Initiatives
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) to expedite welfare initiatives and improve services for overseas Pakistanis, and described them as a valuable national asset and acknowledged their vital contribution to the country’s economy. The prime minister issued the directives during a meeting with OPF Board of Governors Chairman Syed Qamar Raza and Managing Director Afzal Bhatti here, the Prime Minister’s Office news release said. During the meeting, discussions focused on the foundation’s ongoing efforts to address the problems faced by Pakistanis living abroad and to further enhance welfare and facilitation measures for them.
The prime minister said overseas Pakistanis are a precious asset of the nation and play a significant role in strengthening Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves by remitting their hard-earned income to the country. He instructed the OPF to further accelerate the implementation of ongoing welfare projects and initiatives for expatriate Pakistanis and ensure greater efficiency in delivering services. Expressing satisfaction over the foundation’s performance, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the OPF leadership to prepare and present a comprehensive plan for further improving its services and welfare programmes for overseas Pakistanis. The meeting also included a briefing on a comprehensive roadmap aimed at introducing additional measures for the welfare and facilitation of overseas Pakistanis. The OPF chairman and managing director paid tribute to the prime minister for Pakistan’s efforts in promoting global peace.
