PM for response mechanism ahead of monsoon spell
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PM Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting to review preparations ahead of the monsoon season.—APP
• Body to coordinate with provinces as their cooperation with Centre is key to addressing climate-related disasters
• PM directs swift completion of Daanish schools
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to intensify preparations for the upcoming monsoon season, ordering the establishment of a national emergency response mechanism and stressing that coordinated action was required to mitigate the growing risks posed by climate change and flooding.
Presiding over a meeting to review monsoon preparedness and climate resilience, the prime minister approved the formation of an Emergency Response Committee headed by the planning and development minister.
He said Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and stressed that effective cooperation between the federation and the provinces was critical to addressing climate-related disasters.
The committee, comprising the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and representatives of relevant federal ministries, will work in close coordination with provincial authorities and hold weekly meetings throughout the monsoon season to monitor preparedness and response efforts, the PM Office Media Wing said in a statement.
PM Shehbaz also directed the finance minister to complete advance arrangements for an emergency fund that could be mobilised in the event of severe monsoon-related disasters.
The prime minister also directed the federal minister for climate change and the NDMA chairman to visit all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) during the current week to finalise monsoon preparedness.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to water security, the prime minister highlighted the allocation of an additional Rs330 billion in the current fiscal year’s federal budget to accelerate the completion of major water infrastructure projects.
Recalling the lessons learnt from previous flood emergencies, the prime minister directed all relevant institutions to implement a comprehensive flood mitigation roadmap.
He directed provincial governments to remove illegal encroachments and other obstacles from river channels and flood pathways, particularly in districts identified as highly vulnerable to flooding.
He also instructed all federal and provincial institutions to deploy their full administrative and technical resources to facilitate the public throughout the monsoon season. During the meeting, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed participants on the country’s preparedness measures, expected weather patterns, flood risks and evolving climate trends.
According to the briefing, extreme heatwaves and unusual climatic conditions are expected across many parts of the world this year. Pakistan is also forecast to experience prolonged heatwaves and above-normal rainfall in July, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable regions. He further informed the meeting that all necessary measures were being implemented under a comprehensive preparedness strategy.
Daanish schools
Presiding over a separate review meeting, PM Shehbaz directed the authorities to expedite the completion of Daanish schools across the country, emphasising that appointment of teaching faculty and other staff at these institutions must be made strictly on merit.
According to the PM Office, the prime minister announced that a technology campus of Daanish University would be established in Muzaffarabad, describing the education initiatives as a major investment in the country’s future and its most important national asset.
He also directed that the architectural design of the schools should reflect the cultural heritage of their respective regions.
During the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on the progress of 27 Daanish schools under construction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, GB, AJK and Islamabad, as well as the construction of Daanish University in the federal capital.
According to the briefing, the Daanish School in Kurri, Islamabad, had been completed and already started academic activities. Meanwhile, the construction of Daanish schools in Bagh, Bhimber, Sultanabad, Ghanche and Astore was in the final stages, with classes expected to commence in April 2027. Officials also informed the meeting that the recruitment process for Daanish University’s teaching faculty had begun. The university is scheduled to start academic operations in 2027 and will admit students from across Pakistan on merit, with particular emphasis on providing opportunities to talented youth from backward areas.
Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2026 ...