Islamabad: A recent delivery of meteorological observation equipment from China to Pakistan marks a significant step forward in enhancing Pakistan’s capacity to manage meteorological disasters and address climate change.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the equipment, which arrived on November 30, is a part of a collaborative effort between the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) to develop a Cloud-based Early Warning System tailored for Pakistan’s specific needs.

The System is designed as an open platform utilizing cloud technology, featuring artificial intelligence models and severe weather identification algorithms, which aim to improve the rapid tracking and dissemination of early warning information for meteorological disasters. This system is particularly focused on addressing extreme weather events prevalent in Pakistan, such as glacial lake outburst floods and monsoon outbursts.

In light of global warming and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the enhancement of early warning capabilities has become critical. Earlier this year, China facilitated a training workshop in Beijing for 20 meteorological experts from Pakistan to better understand and apply the Cloud-based Early Warning System.

The development of this System aligns with China’s broader objectives outlined during COP29 in its Action Plan on Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation (2025-2027), demonstrating China’s commitment to aiding developing countries in improving their early warning and climate change adaptation capabilities. Xu Xianghua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of CMA, emphasized the role of the System as a supportive measure for the United Nations Early Warnings for All Initiative.

The potential of the Cloud-based Early Warning System to enhance weather forecasting accuracy through advanced technological applications was highlighted by Sohail Babar Cheema from PMD. Additionally, Charles Malakela, a Belt and Road meteorological visiting scholar from Tanzania, expressed interest in seeing the System expanded to other regions, such as Tanzania, in the future.