ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed federal ministries and provincial governments to work together on a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to tackle climate change and prepare for potential monsoon-related disasters next year.
He issued the directive while chairing a high-level meeting reviewing the government’s climate action strategy. Officials briefed the prime minister on global forecasts for the upcoming monsoon season, as well as the short-, medium-, and long-term plans prepared by the Ministry of Climate Change.
Approving the short-term preparedness plan for next year’s monsoon, the prime minister emphasised the need for immediate implementation to prevent loss of life and property. He also instructed authorities to make arrangements for holding a meeting of the National Water Council.
PM Shehbaz stressed that early preparation is critical to mitigating potential monsoon impacts, calling on the Climate Change Ministry, Planning Ministry, and NDMA to develop a unified framework in close coordination with provincial governments.
He noted that Pakistan spends a significant share of its GDP combating the adverse effects of climate change every three years, adding that limited national resources are diverted from development projects toward climate-related disaster management.
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan contributes minimally to global climate change yet continues to suffer disproportionately from its severe consequences.