Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today declared that a substantial portion of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product is being diverted from national development to counteract the severe effects of climate-related disasters, as he ordered the immediate commencement of plans for the next monsoon season.
The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting in the capital focused on climate change-induced losses and future mitigation strategies. The Prime Minister approved a short-term plan presented by the Ministry of Climate Change, mandating its swift implementation to prevent the loss of life and property.
Emphasizing a unified approach, Shehbaz Sharif instructed that the Ministry of Climate Change, the Ministry of Planning, and the NDMA must work in collaboration with provincial governments to formulate a comprehensive strategy regarding climate change.
In a related move, the premier also called for arrangements to be made for a meeting of the National Water Council, which will be tasked with creating a national plan for better water management.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister lamented that Pakistan, a developing nation with a negligible role in causing climate change, is severely engulfed by its detrimental consequences. He highlighted the recurring financial strain, stating that instead of development, “our precious and limited resources are used to prevent the hazardous impacts of climate change.”
The meeting was attended by key government figures, including Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Dr. Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, and other relevant authorities.