He was chairing a review meeting on preparedness for monsoon season and strategy to counter climate threats in Islamabad today.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is among the countries most affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. He emphasized that effective and comprehensive cooperation between the federation and the provinces is indispensable to tackle national-level climate risks.
Shehbaz Sharif also directed the Minister for Climate Change and the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority to undertake emergency visits to all provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, during the current week to ensure that monsoon preparedness is fully completed.
He also ordered the formation of an Emergency Response Committee under the supervision of the Minister for Planning and Development. The committee will comprise representatives of the NDMA and other relevant federal ministries and will work in close coordination with the provincial institutions concerned. The committee will hold weekly meetings to monitor preparedness and ensure effective implementation of precautionary measures.
The Prime Minister further directed the Minister for Finance to complete advance preparations for establishing an emergency fund to meet any financial requirements arising from possible monsoon-related disasters.
He stressed that projects financed through foreign assistance should also contribute to strengthening the capacity of national and local institutions.
The Prime Minister noted that the Federal Government has allocated an additional 330 billion rupees in the current fiscal year's budget to expedite water sector projects aimed at ensuring national water security.
Referring to lessons learned from previous years, he instructed that all preventive and response measures against possible floods and other monsoon-related hazards should be implemented under a comprehensive roadmap.
The Prime Minister directed provincial governments to ensure timely removal of encroachments and resolve other issues obstructing river channels and potential flood routes in vulnerable districts.
He also instructed all relevant institutions to utilize their full institutional and technical capacities to facilitate and protect the public during the monsoon season.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the NDMA briefed participants on monsoon preparedness, the expected rainfall pattern, possible flood situations and climate trends.
The briefing highlighted that severe heatwaves and unusual climate patterns are expected globally this year.
It added that Pakistan is also likely to experience intense heatwaves and above-normal rainfall during the current month, for which all necessary arrangements are being made under a comprehensive preparedness strategy.