Islamabad:
The Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Musadik Malik, said Thursday that his ministry was preparing a 300 -day implementation plan to meet the growing impacts of climate change, including the risks of monsoon rains and glacial merger.
Addressing a press conference, Malik said the action plan would be finalized in coordination with federal ministries, provincial governments, armed forces, NGOs and social protection organizations.
“We must act in our own resources, with the support of our civil administration, our social protection establishments and our armed forces to protect our children and our communities,” he said.
Flanked by President NDMA, Lieutenant-General Inam Haider Malik, the Minister noted that Prime Minister Sharif, at a meeting of the cabinet, said both a national climate emergency and an agricultural emergency.
Malik explained that the measures were preventive, aimed at reducing the losses of the monsoon season next year and the glacial merger. “It is not unique in Pakistan. The whole world is changing, and all nations must wake up with this reality,” he said.
Detailing the government’s flood response, Malik said more than 2.5 million people had been evacuated to safer areas in Punjab, while the Sindh received advanced warnings due to delayed water entries.
“From Siackot to Narowal, Lahore, Shahdara, Jhang and Sargodha, two big flood waves have already been followed, another approach to Punjnad’s head,” he added.
Malik said that the detailed climate action plan would be completed within one month, reiterating government’s commitment to resilience and preparation. “We pray that no devastation never comes back, but if this is the case, Pakistan will be confronted with him, with preparation, resilience and faith,” he concluded.
The president of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the LT General Inam Haider Malik, said Thursday that the authority had delivered 9,500 tonnes of rescue supplies to areas affected by the floods in Punjab.
He said that more than 9,000 tents had been provided in Punjab in the context of military contribution aid. The rescue complex has 30,000 tents, as well as boats and ration kits, part of a large -scale humanitarian aid initiative.
The president of the NDMA said that more than 2.4 million people had been evacuated from villages subject to floods through Punjab.
More than 5,000 villages are currently overwhelmed. The rehabilitation process will start in three to four weeks, once flood waters are retreating and critical infrastructure such as roads and communication networks are restored.
In the Sindh, he said that rescue operations have grown with the unprecedented involvement of volunteers. Until now, around 150,000 people have been moved to safe locations, with more expected evacuations as weather conditions evolve.
