Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, chaired a high-level meeting with Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt. General Imam Haider Malik, on Tuesday to review Pakistan’s preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season. The session focused on addressing the increasing risk of climate-induced disasters, particularly in light of rising temperatures and anticipated flood threats.
During the briefing, NDMA officials presented updated weather outlooks, highlighting the likelihood of above-normal temperatures across the country—especially in northern regions where accelerated glacial melt could increase the risk of flooding in the Indus River basin.
Key topics included the NDMA’s three-tier early warning system, which comprises seasonal outlooks, advisory alerts, and confirmatory warnings. This system, officials noted, enables more precise forecasting and facilitates timely action to mitigate potential disasters.
Technical presentations explored the meteorological and environmental triggers influencing South Asia’s monsoon, such as land-sea temperature contrasts, sea surface temperatures, and Northern Hemisphere snow cover. Both sides underscored the importance of data-driven forecasting and strengthened coordination among government bodies to address evolving climate risks.
The meeting also delved into localized disaster mitigation strategies. Dr. Malik emphasized that “climate adaptation is inherently disaster mitigation,” calling for better integration between climate and disaster management agencies. He urged the development of jointly financed and interlinked project frameworks to improve implementation efficiency.
Additionally, both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing mitigation projects and agreed to conduct a formal assessment to identify bottlenecks and devise a framework for their timely completion.
It was decided that a follow-up coordination meeting will be convened with participation from NDMA, District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and other relevant stakeholders to ensure comprehensive preparedness and response planning ahead of the monsoon season.
Tags
Climate change, NDMA, Musadik Malik, monsoon 2025, glacial melt, Indus River floods, disaster preparedness, early warning system, Pakistan weather, flood risk, climate adaptation, PMD, environmental policy, government planning
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