Pakistan is experiencing 87% increase in monsoon rainfall, Sherry

Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman expressed concern over the incidents of flash floods and GLOF onset by the Monsoon season. Speaking to the media, she informed that “Pakistan is experiencing 87% increase in monsoon rainfall than average this year. We have seen the occurrence of 16 GLOF events. Heavy rains have killed 39 people and injured more than 35 in rain-related incidents in Balochistan. Three women and four children are amongst those killed. Total number of death toll from Monsoon rains has risen to 77 from 14th June till now. Outside of Quetta, Turbat and Pasni are also experiencing urban flooding. Balochistan government has declared emergency situation for the next 24 hours. While in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, flash flooding occurred due to GLOF events in Shaidas and Harchin Nullahs at Laspur valley. Commuters and tourists were stranded in Laspur Valley after taking part in the Shandur Polo Festival as the main roads were submerged under flood water. Teams are on the ground to repair the road as soon as possible and teams are on the ground to open routes to enable tourists to leave for their next destination.”

Minister Rehman praised the timely warning and data generated by NDMA on the onset of heavy rains and windstorms all over the country. “It is not within the mandate of the Ministry of Climate Change to conduct relief and rescue during these times but to ensure coordination and timely generation of early warning as well as directives to provinces. I commend the NDMA for timely data generation and monitoring with early warning and continuing to do their work preventing larger loss of life and damage to property in many areas undergoing monsoon in the country. The departments will continue to exercise vigilance and provide necessary information to avoid further damages and loss of life throughout the duration of the Monsoon season. It is important that during the peak Monsoon and Tourism season, authorities in both federal and provincial areas remain vigilant and alert for immediate action in anticipation of any incident. And we have seen the GLOF and flash floods happening in Gilgit Baltistan including land and rock slides leading to damages and road blockages in Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar and Ghanche. GBPWD and FWO are working round the clock for clearance of debris and necessary repairs. Restoration of the bridge is in progress in Hunza.”

Highlighting the situation in Sindh, Federal Minister remarked, “Sindh has received 261% more rains than average while Balochistan has received 274% which is the highest so far. Average temperatures are based on 30 years of datasets so we can see that this is very high. This is how climate change affects us. We are the 5th most affected to climatic changes. We were just a few weeks ago talking about heatwaves and forest fires and now we have dived into GLOF and flash floods. 16 GLOF events have happened till now just in the last two months at a time when the average count is 5 or 6. The reason is because we face the intensity of global warning actions from around the world because of our geo-location and we have the most glaciers outside the polar region. We are having 87% more rains than average this year and it is not normal. Nature will not fix itself and go back to normal. We need to make policies and take action to deal with climate change as part of our national narrative. The media is already doing a great job of educating the masses but we need to raise awareness as we are doing through the Ministry now and education and environment literacy to the people.”

Briefing the media on current initiatives undertaken by the ministry, Minister Rehman said, “We have initiated our policy making and international engagements. Recently, we presented the National Hazardous Waste Policy, and we are ensuring that no NOC is given to the imported waste that was previously being illegally dumped in Pakistan. We are also working on bringing a Plastic Policy that has been sent to the provinces for consultations and will be functional soon. Energy transition is another focal point for the ministry as we have started meetings on Energy Transitions and taking Petroleum and Power Ministries on board as Asian Development Bank will be conducting its feasibility study. Meetings on Net Zero and Carbon Trading have started as well and these have not been conducted before. However, the most pressing problem Pakistan is faced with is still the water crisis. If the current streak of water-stress continues, we will be water-scarce by 2025. Right now our dams are strengthening but the problem of waster stress is not going to go away. We need to expedite our efforts to use water wisely and save our water resources. The Ministry has launched an ambitious ‘Living Indus’ initiative along with the Indus Recharge project that will involve recharging and cleaning our major rivers. Both the projects have been shared with the provinces for consultation. “A lot of work is in the pipeline for us to make policies that will place adaptation at the core of our efforts to minimize and mitigate further exposure to risk.”