Pakistan has become the third top-most affected country in the world hit by climate change in the past few years. This year’s biggest challenge will be the heatwave and flood.
This was stated by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director General Dr Ghulam Rasul on Wednesday while addressing a seminar titled “World Metrological Day” organised by the PMD in collaboration with International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) at PMD Headquarters.
The PMD official said they would ensure early warning system to facilitate public during a heat wave situation so that the death rate could be minimised as compared to deaths reported last year.
He said the PMD was working with the Karachi Electric (KE) for ensuring flow of information with it about heat wave so that the KE could stop load shedding during the heat wave this year. He said the KE had agreed to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity during heat wave which could ensure supply of water to citizens.
The event was also addressed by Institute of Metrology and Geophysics (IMG) Karachi’s Acting Chief Abdul Rasheed, Director Sarfraz Ahmed while IMG’s former Director Mohammed Mustahuddin graced the event as the chief guest.
The DG said that climate change had surprising affects which were usually caused by emissions of high amount of carbon dioxide gases in the air. “Climate change can be judged from the fact that the country’s three provinces were in flood and Baluchistan in drought situation in the past few years,” he added.
Rasul further said that radar stations would be established in Karachi and Islamabad this year for which they had already signed MoUs with a Japanese company. “These new radars stations will give warnings about the flood, heat wave, and drought situation before up to 400km,” he added.
The DG said that in the past few years, Pakistan had many threats from tsunamis and tropical cyclone like Nilofar; Pakistan has still threats from tropical cyclone which is most dangerous and it has very disastrous results.
He said the PMD was established in 1950 and was well known all over the world as it had not only provided services to Pakistan, but also provided great services to the region and other parts of the world.
He also lauded the efforts of the sub-engineers working with the PMD who had developed an automatic weather station a real-time data provider which would be connected with other PMD centres of Pakistan.
Through this, he added, they could save up to Rs 2.3 million on each system as it was imported from abroad for Rs 2.5 million but their own would cost them only Rs 0.2 million.
Speaking during the event, Abdul Rasheed called 2016 a most challenging year but added that the PMD was committed to working hard to ensure early warning systems.
Sarfraz Ahmed said that there was a dire need to spread awareness among public about climate change and its consequences.
Mohammad Mustahuddin said “it was our prime responsibility to protect the environment and not throw garbage into the drainage systems and streets”. “We should keep a little glance on ourselves and change attitude towards environment,” he added.
The programme was attended by a large number of people including PMD’s officials, and students. It was followed by an exhibition which will remain open till March 25, 2016 for general public.
