PM directs intensified preparedness ahead of monsoon season; forms Emergency Response Committee

ISLAMABAD, July 01 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, 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.

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.

The prime minister 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.

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 facilitate the public throughout the monsoon season.

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.