Country Going To Receive Above Normal Monsoon Rainfall, Senate Body Told.

ISLAMABAD -- 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.

The committee that met under the chairpersonship of Senator Seemee Ezdi, was informed that overall a tendency for above normal precipitation is predicted over most parts of the country in August.

Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz briefed the meeting on the monsoon season and threat of flash floods and urban flooding.

Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, sharing her views in the meeting, 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.

About the question whether the Climate Change Ministry is responsible for pre-warning of the climate conditions, she said 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.

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 stake holders should sit together and work on plan each contributing to redress the problem which will now seems to occur regularly as 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.

Secretary Ministry for Climate Change also argued that early warnings 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 disrupts 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 pointed out that concurrent list was missing which has also led to climate disaster in the country. The committee stressed that its time legislation should be formulated to prepare the country for natural...