Islamabad :In a stark climate warning, Pakistan\u2019s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has revealed that the country is on track to becoming one of the 15 most water-stressed nations in the world by 2025, amid growing environmental vulnerabilities and erratic weather patterns.<\/p>\n
The revelation came during a comprehensive briefing delivered by NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik to members of the National Assembly\u2019s Standing Committee on Climate Change, who visited the authority\u2019s headquarters for a detailed overview of national preparedness and environmental risks.
\nSurging Risks from Above and Below<\/p>\n
Chairman Malik highlighted that above-average monsoon rains are forecast this year, particularly in southern regions including Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan \u2014 areas that have already faced critical flooding in previous years.<\/p>\n
He warned that Pakistan is not only grappling with changing rainfall patterns, but also with the accelerated melting of glaciers in the north. Using data from the Global Glacier Monitoring System, the NDMA is tracking rapid changes in glacial behavior that could increase the likelihood of flash floods and GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods).<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate change is not a future threat \u2014 it\u2019s a present reality for Pakistan,\u201d said the NDMA Chief. \u201cWater scarcity, intense monsoons, and glacier instability are converging into a multi-dimensional crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Preparedness vs. Provincial Gaps<\/p>\n
Responding to questions from lawmakers about public safety and early interventions, the Chairman emphasized that while the NDMA maintains a modern command system, drone surveillance, and early warning protocols, disaster response now rests largely with provincial authorities under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.<\/p>\n
He further stated that early alerts are shared with relevant departments months in advance, yet challenges such as unregulated urban development, poor drainage infrastructure, and slow response coordination continue to limit the impact of preparedness efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWarnings only work if they\u2019re followed by timely action. We\u2019ve equipped provinces with the tools\u2014they must act decisively,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Being Done<\/p>\n
94 critical infrastructure points have been mapped for potential flood vulnerability.<\/p>\n
A round-the-clock operations center is monitoring incoming monsoon data.<\/p>\n
Joint drills with provincial authorities are being conducted to test emergency readiness.<\/p>\n
Public awareness guidelines are being developed in coordination with local governments.<\/p>\n
Bottom Line:<\/p>\n
As the monsoon approaches, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. Without integrated national and provincial cooperation, the looming water scarcity and climate disasters may outpace current mitigation strategies \u2014 and place millions at risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad :In a stark climate warning, Pakistan\u2019s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has revealed that the country is on track to becoming one of the 15 most water-stressed nations in the world by 2025, amid growing environmental vulnerabilities and erratic weather patterns. The revelation came during a comprehensive briefing delivered by NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[160,2294],"class_list":["post-4779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","tag-headline","tag-youdigital"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4779"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4781,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4779\/revisions\/4781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdigital.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}