Punjab climate and disaster resilience plan reviewed
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has warned that temperatures could rise significantly during July, August and September, while urban flooding also remains a major concern, directing all relevant departments to maintain complete preparedness.
Chairing a meeting on monsoon preparedness, the chief minister said climate change is a reality and some cities could experience temperatures as high as 52 degrees Celsius. She added that above-normal rainfall has also been forecast for certain areas.
Maryam Nawaz said proactive measures are being taken to deal with monsoon rains and that the early warning system is being fully activated to ensure timely weather forecasts and emergency response.
She directed all departments to remain on high alert for possible flooding and instructed rescue and emergency services to continue conducting mock exercises to strengthen disaster preparedness.
The chief minister said lessons learned from last year’s devastating floods had been incorporated into current planning, adding that arrangements had also been made to ensure adequate fodder supplies for livestock.
She further instructed authorities to issue timely public advisories regarding heatwaves and weather conditions, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure for elderly people, women and children during extreme heat.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had completed all necessary arrangements to tackle heatwave conditions, claiming that rainwater is drained promptly in the province, while, without naming any province, she remarked tMeanwhile, an important meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik was held in Lahore on Thursday during which issues related to the climate in the province were discussed.
Senior Minister Mariyum Aurangzeb, Chief Secretary, Chairman NDMA, SMBR and PDMA participated the meeting. Punjab Senior Minister Mariyum Aurangzeb presented the “Punjab Climate and Disaster Resilience Plan 2026” and gave a detailed briefing in the meeting.
The meeting agreed on early warning system for forecasting severe weather events between the Federation and Punjab. The meeting also agreed on mutual coordination at least 6 hours before any extreme weather event.
The meeting considered to establish centralized information screens in all districts of Punjab in collaboration with the federal government. The meeting reviewed proposal to install centralized information screens related to climate and floods at district and tehsil level.
