ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change on Thursday was informed that procurement of an early warning system is in process, which will provide exact data about floods and will be helpful in preventing the loss of lives and property in the Northern areas.
The standing meeting, chaired by Senator Seemee Ezdi, discussed the steps taken by Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II) project in reducing flood risks and prevents casualties resulting from it. Officials of GLOF-II project apprised the committee that they geographically operates in 10 districts of Gilgit Baltistan, 8 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their primary work includes warning to locals regarding floods, creation of community based disaster risk management centres and safe heavens, conduct awareness session for locals, creation and maintenance of gabion walls and irrigation channels for reduction of floods damages.
Procurement of early warning system is in process which will provide exact data about floods and will be helpful in preventing the loss of life and property in the nothern areas, they added. The committee appreciated their work and assured full support to them. The senate body was also briefed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) about total damage caused by recent flood and funds and assistance received by Government of Pakistan from international community for the flood affected areas. Officials of NDMA told the committee that, as of 11 September 2022 evaluations, the total of 1,412 persons have lost their lives, around 1,749,532 houses have partially or completely damaged and estimated 771,141 livestock have washed away in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, GB and KP in this unprecedented flood.
They further added that Rs.3.3b donation has received in PM Flood Relief Fund and as far as contribution received from International Community is concerned, the matter comes under the ambit of Economic Affairs Division and NDMA could not shed light on it. Senator Taj Haider was of the opinion that climate change was a major issue for the country and construction of check dams, revival of natural water ways was necessary to lessen disastrous effects of the floods. Ministry of Climate Change also briefed the senate committee about National Hazardous and Waste Management Policy. While deliberating on the matter of recent incident of Forest fire in KPK, Senator Semee Ezdi stated that Pakistan is already listed in most vulnerable country to climate change and there is a dire need of joint effort for preservation of forest owing to their importance for our ecosystem. She also directed secretaries of forest department of all four provinces to brief senate body about their policies and efforts for the preservation of forest.
