ISLAMABAD; Federal Minister for Climate Change, Dr. Musadik Malik, has stressed that while Pakistan continues to battle the devastation caused by ongoing floods, the country must simultaneously begin preparing for the next monsoon season.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant-General Inam Haider Malik, the minister said that climate change is intensifying global weather extremes, and Pakistan remains one of the most vulnerable countries.
âYesterday, the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency to mitigate further damage. But we must also look forward, planning for the next monsoon cannot be delayed,â Dr. Malik emphasized.
According to official data, the second wave of floodwaters has reached Panjnad, while earlier flooding in Sialkot and Narowal caused large-scale destruction. Across the country, 930 people have lost their lives so far. Dr. Malik also praised the contributions of welfare organizations, volunteers, and private groups in providing relief.
NDMA Chairman Lt-Gen Inam Haider Malik briefed the media that more than 2.4 million people in Punjab and 150,000 in Sindh have been evacuated to safer zones. He explained that while the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers are currently under control, heavy inflows persist at the Panjnad and Guddu barrages. Floodwaters have damaged crops extensively, with some embankments deliberately breached to ease water pressure.
The NDMA chief warned that the current monsoon spell is expected to continue until the end of September, with fresh showers likely between September 16 and 18 in central Punjab and Azad Kashmir. He said NDMA has already provided Punjab with 9,000 tents and more than 9,000 tons of rations. Relief operations, he noted, were possible because of early warnings that enabled authorities to evacuate millions in time.
Lt-Gen Malik added that rehabilitation will begin once the water recedes in four to five weeks. More than 5,000 villages and large agricultural tracts have been affected. âOur recovery efforts will involve provincial governments, NGOs, military formations, and volunteers, all of whom have already played a vital role in relief operations,â he said.
He underlined that disasters of this scale will become more frequent due to climate change, as seen in recent hill torrents in northern areas. To deal with such threats, Pakistan will initiate a national dialogue to develop a long-term resilience strategy, focusing on adaptive preparedness.
Meanwhile, official irrigation data shows alarming increases in water levels at the major barrages. At Guddu Barrage, inflows have reached over 502,000 cusecs, with outflows above 407,000 cusecs. Sukkur Barrage is recording inflows of 440,985 cusecs, while Kotri Barrage shows over 257,000 cusecs. Rising levels have already submerged several riverine settlements, forcing thousands to evacuate.
Dr. Malik acknowledged that while the damage is extensive, coordinated efforts by civil administration, the military, and welfare groups have saved countless lives. He noted that floodwaters have already traveled from Sialkot and Narowal through Lahore, Jhang, and Sargodha before moving southwards.
âWe will do whatever we can to protect our people. God forbid there is destruction, but if thereâs a disaster in Pakistan, we will not compromise on our peopleâs safety,â he said.
The minister reiterated that Pakistanâs national response hinges on early preparation, unity among provinces, and international support. âWe are one nation â Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir. We stand together in this crisis,â he concluded.
