Exercise of National Simulation Plan, a desideratum for unprecedented weather forecast

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (NNI): The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change on Thursday was informed by the Pakistan Metrological Department that the country as a whole is going to receive, above normal monsoon rainfall during forecast season.
It was informed that overall a tendency for above normal precipitation is predicted over most parts of the country in August.
The Senate Climate Change Committee which met under the chairpersonship of Senator Seemee Ezdi here at the Parliament Lodges on Thursday was briefed by the Chairman NDMA on the monsoon season and threat of flash floods and urban flooding.
The Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman who was also in attendance said that these events will remain a regular feature and the country’s overall infrastructure is not ready for such disasters which will lead to severe humanitarian crisis.
Senator Farooq H. Naek raised question whether the Climate Change Ministry or the MET office is responsible for pre-warning of the climate conditions. The Minister for climate changed briefed that the MET office which comes under the ministry of Aviation is responsible for weather warnings. She said that it is the role of the provincial government for preventive measures and rescue and relief operations.
The Minister for Climate change said that despite the MET office warnings which are loud and clear, are of no use since the Provincial Government do not have the capacity to rescue a disaster because of its infrastructure, road construction and poor rain water drainage system.
She said that as long as the nullahs will not be cleared and the country will not equip it with enough resources there will be no way forward. She said that all the stake holders should sit together and work on plan each contributing to redress this problem which will now seem to occur regularly as the climate change occurs globally.
Senator Taj Haider while discussing possible solutions to address such calamities said that the country is also lacking water reservoirs, through which adversity could be changed into opportunity and accumulate water, addressing the issue of water scarcity.
The Secretary Ministry for Climate Change also argued that early warning are area specific as certain areas cannot forecast due to lack of modern equipment. He said that 10 lac people are residing at the bed of the River Indus when the flood occurs these residents disseminate in the local area which continues to disrupt the rescue and relief operation.
The committee unanimously believed that a National Action Plan and its implementation is the need of the day. Senator Farooq Hamid Naek also pointed out that concurrent list was missing which has also led to climate disaster in the country. The committee stressed that it’s time legislation should be formulated to prepare the country for natural disasters due to rapid climate change globally.
It was also decided to work on National Simulation exercise to validate and enhance preparedness and response plans, procedures and systems for all hazards and capabilities. Senator Faisal Javed also proposed the committee to take brief by the Ministry of Climate Change on the National Adaptation Policies for Climate Change on priority basis in the next meeting.
The chairman NDMA briefed the committee that the National Emergency operation center ( NEOC) is operational 24/7 which is continuously monitoring daily occurrences and is in coordination with all Disaster management stake holders including UN agencies, Donors NGO’s and media.