Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to expedite preparations for the looming monsoon season, ordering the establishment of a national emergency response mechanism and calling for coordinated action to mitigate the growing risks posed by climate change and flooding.
Presiding over a meeting to review monsoon preparedness and climate resilience, he approved the formation of an Emergency Response Committee headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
He said Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, stressing the critical need for effective cooperation between the federation and provinces to address climate-related disasters.
The committee, comprising the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and representatives of relevant federal ministries, would work in close coordination with provincial authorities and hold weekly meetings throughout the monsoon season to monitor preparedness and response efforts.
During the meeting, the prime minister also directed the finance minister to complete advance arrangements for an emergency fund that could be mobilized in the event of severe monsoon-related disasters. He further directed the federal minister for climate change and the NDMA chairman to visit all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan within the week to finalize monsoon preparedness.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to water security, the premier highlighted the allocation of an additional Rs. 330 billion in the current fiscal year’s federal budget to accelerate the completion of major water infrastructure projects. Recalling the lessons learnt from previous flood emergencies, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive flood mitigation roadmap.
Ahead of the monsoon, ordered Sharif, provincial governments should remove illegal encroachments and other obstacles from river channels and flood pathways, particularly in 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.
During the meeting, NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. 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 in July, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable regions. He said all necessary measures were being implemented under a comprehensive preparedness strategy.