Centre, KP authorities review monsoon preparedness, emergency response mechanisms

PESHAWAR, Jul 13 (APP): In view of the ongoing monsoon season and the increasing risks posed by climate-induced disasters, the federal and provincial authorities on Monday convened a high-level coordination meeting to review the province’s preparedness, mitigation measures, and emergency response mechanisms for potential monsoon-related emergencies.

The meeting brought together senior representatives of provincial and federal institutions responsible for disaster risk management, emergency response, rescue operations, weather forecasting, infrastructure protection, and humanitarian coordination.

  Participants conducted a comprehensive assessment of the province’s state of preparedness, reviewed contingency arrangements, and held detailed deliberations on operational readiness, field-level coordination, emerging challenges, and response capacities.

The forum noted that this year’s erratic monsoon pattern, coupled with unusually high temperatures and changing climatic conditions, has significantly increased the likelihood of extreme weather events across the country.

  It was observed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, remains among the region’s most vulnerable to flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, urban flooding, and other climate-induced hazards.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah said the province stands on the frontline of climate vulnerability and is exposed to multiple natural hazards.

He emphasized that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa often faces the earliest and most severe impacts of extreme climatic events, requiring swift and coordinated action by all concerned institutions.

“The province has to respond to rapidly evolving emergency situations within a very short timeframe. Our preparedness, coordination, and response mechanisms therefore demand extraordinary vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and round-the-clock operational readiness,” the Chief Secretary said.

He stressed that an effective disaster preparedness framework not only safeguards lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure within the province but also contributes significantly to national resilience during large-scale emergencies.

During the meeting, Secretary for Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Khan presented a detailed briefing on the province’s monsoon preparedness plan and the operational readiness of provincial authorities, district administrations, and frontline departments.

He informed the participants that comprehensive preparedness measures have been completed across all 37 districts of the province in coordination with 12 frontline departments engaged in disaster risk management and emergency response.

According to the briefing, special attention has been given to 11 high-risk districts identified through hazard and vulnerability assessments due to their greater susceptibility to flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), riverine flooding, landslides, and other monsoon-related emergencies.

The Secretary said hazard-prone locations have been mapped using risk assessment tools, while district-level contingency plans have been updated and synchronized with provincial response mechanisms. Vulnerable communities have been sensitized through awareness campaigns, local volunteers have received emergency response training, and evacuation routes and designated relief locations have been identified.

He added that rescue equipment, communication systems, emergency equipment, and field instruments have been fully inspected, tested, and made operational to ensure immediate deployment whenever required.

The meeting was informed that emergency operation centres, district administrations, and line departments have been directed to maintain close coordination throughout the monsoon period, while continuous monitoring of weather forecasts, river flows, and other hydrological indicators will be undertaken to facilitate timely decision-making and rapid response.

Both the federal and provincial authorities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening early warning systems and coordination mechanisms for effective emergency preparedness and response.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement, Aqib Ullah Khan, were in attendance.

The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of NDMA, senior officials of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Irrigation Department, and Deputy Commissioners from across the province.