PM Shehbaz orders inquiry into inactive EWS, directs urgent Monsoon preparedness measures

ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP):Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday ordered a high-level inquiry into the non-functional early warning system installed in Gilgit-Baltistan for protection against glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and directed all relevant institutions to accelerate coordinated preparations ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.

Chairing a review meeting on pre-monsoon preparedness and climate-related risks, the prime minister expressed strong displeasure over the continued inactivity of the early warning system despite clear directives issued last year. He warned that negligence and weak institutional performance would not be tolerated and emphasized that safeguarding citizens from environmental hazards remains a core responsibility of all departments, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.

The prime minister instructed federal ministries and provincial governments to remove bottlenecks hindering policy implementation and ensure full operationalization of digital monitoring infrastructure for early warning systems. He stressed that Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts and called for emergency-level efforts to mitigate associated risks.

The prime minister also highlighted lessons from last year’s monsoon season, and noted that illegal encroachments along river routes and flood channels had contributed significantly to damages. He directed authorities to adopt an effective preventive strategy this year to address the issue before the onset of heavy rains.
He further instructed all institutions to enhance operational capacity and mobilize resources beyond routine limits to protect lives and property during potential flooding. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, and the Ministry of Planning and Development were specifically directed to work closely with provinces to ensure coordinated and result-oriented implementation of preparedness measures.

During the meeting, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), WAPDA, and the Ministry of Climate Change briefed the prime minister on progress made in line with earlier directives. Senior federal ministers, advisers, provincial chief secretaries, and top officials from relevant departments attended the session.