Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to begin preparations to prevent the loss of life and property during the next monsoon season. He emphasized this during a review meeting in Islamabad focused on addressing climate change-induced losses and planning mitigation strategies for the upcoming monsoon.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister approved a short-term plan presented by the Ministry of Climate Change and instructed its immediate implementation. He emphasized the need for the Ministry of Climate Change, the Ministry of Planning, and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to collaborate with provincial governments to develop a comprehensive climate change strategy.

Additionally, Prime Minister Sharif called for preparations to convene a meeting of the National Water Council to formulate a national plan for improved water management. During the meeting, he highlighted that Pakistan, as a developing country, is forced to allocate significant portions of its GDP to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change every three years. He expressed concern that these resources are diverted from development projects to address climate-related hazards.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan, despite its negligible contribution to climate change, is severely affected by its adverse impacts. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Dr. Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and other relevant authorities.