Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a 13-member high-level committee to develop strategies aimed at boosting Pakistan’s resilience against extreme weather events, including floods, cloudbursts, and urban flooding.
The committee, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, includes federal ministers, secretaries, and technical experts. It will review disaster preparedness, evaluate existing infrastructure, and recommend climate adaptation measures at the national and provincial levels.
The formation of this body comes as devastating floods continue across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit Baltistan, where more than 840 people have died since late June amid widespread destruction.
In Punjab alone, flooding has submerged over 2,200 villages, killed at least 33 people, and affected more than 2 million residents, underscoring the urgent need for stronger disaster management mechanisms.
The committee’s mandate covers assessing flood protection systems, exploring financing options including climate funds, proposing anti-deforestation legislation, and strengthening federal and provincial disaster management authorities with modern forecasting tools and early warning systems.
Alongside this, a policy dialogue forum has been formed to engage provincial governments, civil society, and experts. Meeting fortnightly, it will shape short, medium, and long-term strategies for national climate resilience.