Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has created a climate forecasting system capable of predicting natural disasters up to 12 months in advance.
- The system was discussed during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and NDMA officials.
- Aurangzeb highlighted the importance of translating forecasts into actionable early warning measures.
Pakistan has made significant strides in climate prediction, developing a system that can provide outlooks up to 12 months ahead, according to a recent report.
During a meeting on October 23, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb discussed the forecasting system with outgoing National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and incoming Chairman Lieutenant General Hasan Khattak.
Aurangzeb emphasized the critical role of climate change and population growth as existential challenges for Pakistan, with significant implications for economic stability, food security, and public finances.
The minister also noted that climate change and its impact on Pakistan were discussed during recent meetings with international partners at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings.
Malik briefed the finance minister on the forecasting system and ongoing efforts to enhance its capabilities, focusing on moving Pakistan from reactive disaster response to proactive, technology-driven risk reduction.
The NDMA leadership outlined initiatives involving the Global Resilience Hub and Next Generation Technologies, which aim to support knowledge sharing and strengthen engagement with international partners.
Aurangzeb stressed the need for institutional continuity and sustainable technical capacity to ensure long-term climate adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk management.
The finance minister also emphasized the importance of mobilizing domestic resources and engaging international development partners to finance disaster preparedness and climate resilience.
He called for prioritizing investments and developing practical projects with measurable outcomes to enhance Pakistan's preparedness for natural disasters.
