ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province are working on a monsoon contingency plan for this year, the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) said on Tuesday, days after torrential rains killed at least 10 people in the province.
The casualties occurred in Shangla, Bannu, Bajaur, Peshawar, Swat and other districts as heavy rains and hailstorms lashed the northwestern province from March 29 till March 31.
Pakistan has been facing a range of climate-related challenges and is considered one of the top 10 places in the world most vulnerable to erratic weather patterns.
To preempt any monsoon-related disasters, the PDMA said it had embarked on a “comprehensive” contingency plan for this year.
“The plan aims to engage all relevant stakeholders in identifying potential hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks associated with the monsoon season,” it said in a statement.
“By mapping available resources, the authorities seek to minimize disaster risks and ensure a well-coordinated response to any emergencies that may arise.”
Pakistan produces less than one percent of the world’s carbon footprint but, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, has lost nearly ten thousand lives and suffered economic losses worth $3.8 billion due to climate change throughout the years 1999 to 2018.
In 2022, torrential monsoon rains triggered the most devastating floods in Pakistan’s history, killing around 1,700 people. Over 33 million people were affected by the floodwaters — a staggering number close to the population of Canada. Millions of homes, tens of thousands of schools as well as thousands of kilometers of roads and railways still need to be rebuilt.
