PM orders nationwide monsoon emergency plan as flood risks loom

• Premier Shehbaz forms Emergency Response Committee to coordinate federal and provincial preparedness

• Directs advance arrangements for emergency relief fund ahead of monsoon season

• Orders Climate, NDMA chiefs to assess readiness through visits to provinces, AJK and GB

• Highlights Rs330b water infrastructure allocation to strengthen climate resilience and water security

• Provincial governments told to clear river encroachments and implement flood mitigation roadmap

• NDMA warns of prolonged heatwaves, above-normal July rainfall and heightened flood threat

 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to step up preparations for the upcoming monsoon season by establishing a national emergency response mechanism, warning that Pakistan's growing vulnerability to climate change demands coordinated action at all levels to minimise the risk of floods and other weather-related disasters.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت مون سون سیزن کی پیشگی تیاری، موسمیاتی تغیر اور ماحولیاتی خطرات سے بچاؤ کے نظام پر جائزہ اجلاس

وزیراعظم نے اجلاس سے گفتگو میں کہا کہ وفاقی وزیر برائے پلاننگ اینڈ ڈویلپمنٹ کی زیرِ نگرانی نیشنل ڈزاسٹر منیجمنٹ اور دیگر متعلقہ وفاقی وزارتوں پر… pic.twitter.com/u8fX6uvqEh

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 1, 2026

Chairing a high-level meeting to review monsoon preparedness and climate resilience, the prime minister said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and stressed that effective and comprehensive cooperation between the federation and the provinces was essential to tackle climate-related disasters.

The prime minister also approved the formation of an Emergency Response Committee, which will be headed by the minister for Planning and Development.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت مون سون سیزن کی پیشگی تیاری اور موسمیاتی تغیر اور ماحولیاتی خطرات سے بچاؤ کے نظام پر جائزہ اجلاس

اجلاس میں چیئرمین نیشنل ڈیزاسٹر مینجمنٹ اتھارٹی نے اس سال مون سون سیزن کی پیشگی تیاری اور عملی اقدامات پر بریفنگ دی۔ بریفنگ میں بتایا گیاکہ… pic.twitter.com/pgB0Lq0iY2

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 1, 2026

The committee, comprising representatives of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and relevant federal ministries, will work in close coordination with provincial authorities and hold weekly meetings throughout the monsoon season to monitor preparedness and response efforts, the Prime Minister's Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister also directed the minister for finance to complete advance arrangements for an emergency fund that could be mobilised in the event of severe monsoon-related disasters.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the WAPDA chairman, chief secretaries of all provinces and senior officials of the relevant government departments.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting on preparedness for Monsoon Season and strategy to counter Climate Threats. Islamabad, 1 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/THmxi5uY8W

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 1, 2026

As part of the preparedness measures, the prime minister directed the federal minister for climate change and the NDMA chairman to undertake emergency visits to all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the current week to assess and finalise monsoon preparedness.

He further emphasised that projects financed by international development partners should also focus on strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of national and local institutions and departments.

Highlighting the government's commitment to water security, the prime minister referred to the allocation of an additional Rs330 billion in the current fiscal year's federal budget to accelerate the completion of major water infrastructure projects.

Recalling the lessons learned from previous flood emergencies, the prime minister directed all relevant institutions to implement a comprehensive flood mitigation roadmap.

He also instructed provincial governments to remove illegal encroachments and address other obstacles in river channels and flood pathways, particularly in districts identified as highly vulnerable to flooding.

اسلام آباد : 1 جولائی ، 2026.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت مون سون سیزن کی پیشگی تیاری اور موسمیاتی تغیر اور ماحولیاتی خطرات سے بچاؤ کے نظام پر جائزہ اجلاس آج اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہوا.

اجلاس سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ پاکستان موسمیاتی تبدیلیوں کے مضر… pic.twitter.com/dNcXlt7CAO

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 1, 2026

The prime minister further directed all federal and provincial institutions to deploy their full administrative and technical resources to facilitate the public throughout the monsoon season.

During the meeting, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed participants on the country's preparedness measures, expected weather patterns, flood risks and evolving climate trends.

According to the briefing, extreme heatwaves and unusual climatic conditions are expected in many parts of the world this year. Pakistan is also forecast to experience prolonged heatwaves and above-normal rainfall during July, increasing the risk of flooding in vulnerable regions.

The NDMA informed the meeting that all necessary contingency measures were being implemented under a comprehensive preparedness strategy.