Islamabad, PM’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam, highlighted the urgent need for a unified and robust approach among all levels of government to combat the impacts of global warming and heat waves across Pakistan. This call to action came during the inaugural meeting of a Task Force specifically formed to devise strategies against these environmental threats.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the meeting focused on the recent spate of forest fires in Margalla Hills National Park, where 13 fires from May 17 to June 5, 2024, affected 77.58 hectares. A coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, including the Climate Change Ministry, NDMA, Pakistani Army, Air Force, and CDA, was initiated to manage these fires. Concerns were raised about the insufficient availability of firefighting tools such as fire beaters, highlighting gaps in current emergency responses.
The Task Force also reviewed the broader climate situation, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning of an unusually prolonged heatwave and predicting above-normal rainfall in the upcoming monsoon season, except in Gilgit-Baltistan. This raises the potential for urban flooding and increases risks associated with faster snowmelt in northern areas, which could lead to glacial lake outburst floods.
The Ministry of Water Resources assured that there is no water shortage at present, with provinces receiving their allotted shares. However, the Task Force members from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan expressed specific regional concerns and appreciated the collaborative platform provided by the Task Force.
Romina Khurshid Alam stressed the importance of including women in local disaster response initiatives and ensuring their needs are met, especially in hygiene assistance during crises. She called for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with PEMRA, to enhance public awareness efforts before disasters strike. Furthermore, she advised the establishment of a comprehensive dashboard by the Ministry of Information Technology to improve data availability and response times.
The chairperson concluded the meeting by directing all stakeholders to submit their written recommendations before the next session, underlining the commitment to a proactive and coordinated approach to climate change and disaster management in Pakistan.