Pakistan is expected to receive 25% more rainfall than average during this year’s monsoon season, urging Punjab to make a strong emergency response to prevent urban flooding and changing climate hazards in the region.
Despite giving less than 1% of global carbon emissions, Pakistan is majorly exposed to extreme climate events, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods. In regard to preparation, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia visited the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Lahore for a high-level briefing.
At the briefing, Chief Meteorologist Zahir Babar affirmed that August will likely receive major rainfall, emphasizing the critical need for early warning systems in densely populated cities like Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.
Kathia mentioned that detailed response plans are already in place and emphasized the importance of cross-departmental coordination to mitigate the effects of cloudbursts and flash floods.
During the visit, officials reviewed early flood warning systems for hill torrents and real-time river surveillance managed by the Flood Forecasting Division. Kathia praised PMD’s technological capabilities and effective cooperation with PDMA.
This strategic planning is driven by the catastrophic 2022 monsoon, which caused nearly 1,700 deaths and $35 billion in damage, enforcing the necessity for climate adaptation and proactive disaster management.