Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed federal and provincial ministries to coordinate efforts and implement a comprehensive strategy to manage the upcoming monsoon season and associated climate risks. This directive was issued during a review meeting focused on monsoon preparedness held in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the federation and provinces to mitigate climate-related challenges, noting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change impacts. He tasked the Minister for Climate Change and the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with conducting emergency visits to provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure readiness for the monsoon season.

Shehbaz Sharif also announced the formation of an Emergency Response Committee led by the Minister for Planning and Development, which will include NDMA representatives and other relevant federal ministries. The committee is tasked with weekly meetings to monitor preparedness and ensure effective measures are in place.

The Prime Minister urged the Minister for Finance to establish an emergency fund for potential monsoon-related disasters and highlighted that foreign-assisted projects should bolster national and local institutional capacities. Additionally, the federal government has allocated 330 billion rupees in the current budget to expedite water sector projects for national water security.

He directed provincial governments to address encroachments and issues obstructing river channels and flood routes in vulnerable areas, and he called on institutions to maximize their capacities to protect the public during the monsoon. The NDMA Chairman’s briefing during the meeting pointed to expected severe heatwaves and above-normal rainfall, with preparations underway to address these challenges.