Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, held a high-level meeting today with Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt. General Imam Haider Malik, to review the country’s preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season in the context of rising temperatures and potential flood risks.
Chairman NDMA briefed the Minister on the current temperature outlook and flooding projections, highlighting the likelihood of higher-than-usual temperatures this year. Particular attention was given to the potential impacts of elevated temperatures in Pakistan’s northern regions, which may accelerate glacial melt and result in increased flooding in the Indus River basin.
The meeting included an in-depth discussion on the multi-tier early warning system utilized by NDMA, which operates through three phases: seasonal, Advisory, and confirmatory outlooks. This layered approach enables timely identification of risks and effective mobilization of preventive measures.
Technical briefings were also presented on the meteorological and environmental trigger factors that influence the monsoon season in South Asia, such as the land-sea temperature differential, sea surface temperatures, and snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere. Both sides emphasized the importance of data-driven forecasting and inter-agency coordination in managing climate-induced disasters.
In a joint side meeting, localized disaster mitigation strategies were discussed in detail. The Federal Minister reiterated that “climate adaptation is inherently disaster mitigation,” underlining the urgent need for jointly financed initiatives and interlinked project implementation between climate and disaster management agencies.
The two sides also discussed the status of ongoing and incomplete mitigation projects, agreeing to initiate a formal assessment to identify bottlenecks and propose a viable framework for their timely completion.
It was mutually decided that a follow-up coordination meeting will be held, bringing together the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and relevant project stakeholders. The purpose will be to ensure swift execution of pending initiatives and strategize future joint ventures to strengthen Pakistan’s climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination remains committed to proactive, evidence-based planning and cross-institutional collaboration in the face of escalating climate challenges.
