MoCC Issues Heatwave Guidelines To Provinces For Mitigation

News Desk

Islamabad: In light of the anticipated heatwave in the Southern parts of the country, provincial and local institutions are instructed to take the appropriate preparations to protect public health and lessen the impact of extreme weather on communities.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Sherry Rehman’s call to action comes in response to the latest weather forecast from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for May, which anticipates a higher possibility of heatwaves beginning in the second week of the month, particularly in the southern half of the country.

To mitigate the potentially disastrous consequences of heatwaves, Minister is calling on institutions to follow the ministry for Climate Change’s recently issued ‘Heatwave Guidelines – Urgent Preparatory Measures’, which offer a proactive approach to prevent the spread of heat-related illnesses and provide critical information on how to prepare for and respond to extreme heat events.

“The effects of climate change, especially with increasing greenhouse gas emissions globally, are contributing to more frequent, extremely severe, and longer-lasting heatwaves across the region and the country,” Federal Minister explained. Pakistan is a negligible emitter but the most vulnerable people here suffer from the overheated climate.

Senator Sherry added that while you are still rebuilding after the last shock, it is difficult to move to a resilient development model, which costs four times as much as conventional reconstruction, but we must try.

Pakistan has recorded the hottest temperatures on the planet consistently for the last three years, and with El Niño expected to return this year which could push global temperatures past the 1.5°C mark with devastating impacts on ecosystems & vulnerable countries.

The guidelines have been given to the chief secretaries of all the provinces and the relevant authorities in Islamabad, Senator Sherry stated, adding that districts, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), health departments, and local administration are primarily responsible for responding to the damaging effects of heatwaves.

Minister Rehman emphasised the significance of the authorities utilising the recommendations to take prompt and required actions to safeguard vulnerable groups and lessen the effects of extreme heat.