First-ever Drought Action Plan unveiled to shift from crisis response to risk management

• NDAP focuses on planning and resource mobilisation, governance and policy, early warning systems, local mitigation measures, and capacity-building to translate data into timely, on-ground action

• PakDMS to boost real-time monitoring capabilities as national consultative process shapes policy framework

• Call for whole-of-government, society-wide approach, with roadmap to define roles, timelines, coordination

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has prepared its first-ever National Drought Action Plan (NDAP), a comprehensive framework aimed at shifting the country from reactive crisis response to proactive drought risk management, amid growing climate-induced water stress, state media reported.

The plan is structured around key pillars including planning and resource mobilisation, governance and policy, early warning systems, local mitigation measures, and capacity-building to translate data into timely, on-ground action.

“Climate change is making droughts more frequent, intense and damaging for agriculture, water resources, food security and livelihoods. Pakistan is already among the countries facing high water risk, which underscores the need for a coordinated institutional and policy framework capable of converting available data into timely action,” said Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Humera Moriani.

Speaking at a national consultative workshop on the NDAP, she stressed that the country must move away from a reactive response model and adopt a proactive, risk-based approach to drought management, said a statement issued by the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Department.

“Drought is no longer an occasional or distant threat, but an increasingly persistent challenge driven by rising temperatures, water stress and climate variability,” Moriani emphasised, noting that past responses had largely focused on post-impact relief rather than preparedness and mitigation.

She highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional coordination to ensure that data-driven insights lead to effective implementation on the ground.

Acknowledging the role of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and partner organisations, Moriani said the development of the Pakistan Drought Management System (PakDMS) marked a significant advancement, offering real-time monitoring and early warning capabilities.

“This is a significant step forward. However, data alone is not enough. We need systems that ensure timely, evidence-based decision-making and effective on-ground implementation,” she added.

The federal secretary said the NDAP had been developed by the climate change ministry with the support of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), following extensive consultations with stakeholders.

The consultative workshop brought together representatives from federal and provincial governments, development partners and organisations including IWMI, PMD, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Participants deliberated on priority sectors, institutional roles and responsibilities, and outlined a roadmap for short-, medium- and long-term implementation of the plan.

Moriani stressed that effective drought management required close coordination among federal and provincial governments, technical agencies and development partners.

“Drought is a cross-sectoral challenge and requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” she said.

She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with key stakeholders, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), PMD and provincial departments, and urged participants to provide technical input to finalise a practical and nationally owned action plan.

Officials said the workshop was expected to produce an operational framework document outlining institutional roles and coordination mechanisms, identify priority sectors for drought risk reduction, and propose the establishment of a National Drought Management Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee.

A detailed implementation roadmap, including timelines and reporting structures, is also expected to be finalised.

Climate ministry spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh told APP that Pakistan continued to face recurring and intensifying drought risks due to climate variability, water scarcity, reliance on monsoon rainfall, and increasing pressure on surface and groundwater resources.

He noted that the impacts of drought were being felt across agriculture, water supply, energy production and livelihoods, while responses had so far remained reactive and fragmented.

According to him, the NDAP aims to provide a unified framework for proactive drought risk management by clearly defining strategic priorities, institutional responsibilities and coordinated actions before, during and after drought events.

Shaikh added that once implemented, the plan would strengthen operational drought monitoring and forecasting, improve timely decision-making, and help bridge existing gaps by enhancing preparedness, mitigation and response, while improving institutional coordination to reduce vulnerability and protect livelihoods.