Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a task force on climate change after the country is faced with the current heatwave and the melting of glaciers.
Experts predict climatic changes are expected to have wide-ranging impacts, such as reduced agricultural productivity, increased variability of water availability, increased coastal erosion and seawater incursion, and increased frequency of extreme climatic events.
All relevant federal ministers, secretaries, provincial chief secretaries and relevant provincial secretaries, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are members of the task force,
The task force will develop a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country and prevent incidents such as the glacier incident in Hunza.
Chairing a high-level emergency meeting on the recent heatwave and the effects of climate change, the Prime Minister directed the task force to take measures to prevent food and water shortages, and to conserve water and forests.
Federal Ministers Syed Khurshid Shah, Sherry Rehman, Ehsas-ur-Rehman Mazari, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Maryam Aurangzeb, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz, and officials of relevant agencies participated in the moot. Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain and provincial secretaries were connected through a video link.
PM Sharif directed to take immediate steps in this regard and present a report in the next meeting.
The meeting was informed that climate change was the main reason for the intense heatwave and Pakistan was the fifth most vulnerable country in the world in terms of climate change.
It was pointed out that Pakistan, despite having large reserves of glaciers, was also at risk of water scarcity, which could have a direct impact on the country’s agriculture.
The Prime Minister directed to formulate a comprehensive strategy in this regard on an emergency basis and also stressed the launch of a public awareness campaign for water conservation.
He called for immediate measures to ensure store rainwater before the next monsoon.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the water shortage in Cholistan, to which he directed an immediate supply of water for human settlements and animals.
He directed to ensure immediate relief activities in the recent heatwave in Cholistan by the district administration and relevant agencies. PM Sharif directed the chairman of NDMA to visit Hunza immediately and also stressed upon the reconstruction of the bridge that collapsed during the glacier melting.
Pakistan at verge of extreme
climatic events.Prime Minister forms task force on climate changePakistan at verge of extreme
climatic events.
on 01/02/2023