The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a winter alert, warning that although the number of winter days will remain the same, the cold season will be more severe this year.
Gilgit Baltistan and other northern areas are expected to receive above-average snowfall. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik also predicted that monsoon rains in 2026 could increase by 22 to 26 percent.
Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik emphasized the importance of addressing climate-related disasters as a political priority, noting that recent floods affected 4.7 million people across more than 4,700 villages in Punjab alone.
He recalled that Pakistan has faced multiple major floods since 2010, including the 2022 floods, which caused losses exceeding nine percent of GDP and resulted in thousands of deaths.
Dr. Malik outlined the government’s preparedness strategy, explained in a meeting chaired by the prime minister.
The plan includes short-term repairs of damaged flood protection structures, a one- to three-year phase to expand undersized drainage systems, and a long-term programme to build more resilient infrastructure.
He added that early warning systems will be integrated at the district and tehsil levels so local authorities receive alerts first, allowing faster responses to severe weather events.