Summary
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the immediate formation of a federal emergency response committee and ordered emergency visits across all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to review monsoon preparedness.
- PM Shehbaz directed Climate Minister Musadik Malik and NDMA Chairman to carry out emergency visits this week to ensure readiness.
- He also ordered the establishment of an Emergency Response Committee, headed by the planning minister, comprising NDMA and relevant federal ministries, to coordinate closely with provincial authorities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the immediate formation of a federal emergency response committee and ordered emergency visits across all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to review monsoon preparedness.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the premier stressed that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and highlighted the need for effective coordination between federal and provincial governments to mitigate risks. “Pakistan is among the countries affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Effective and comprehensive coordination between the federation and provinces is indispensable to tackling climate-related risks at the national level,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari, Climate Minister Musadik Malik, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the NDMA chairman, the WAPDA chairman, chief secretaries of all provinces, and other senior officials.
PM Shehbaz directed Climate Minister Musadik Malik and NDMA Chairman to carry out emergency visits this week to ensure readiness. He also ordered the establishment of an Emergency Response Committee, headed by the planning minister, comprising NDMA and relevant federal ministries, to coordinate closely with provincial authorities. The committee will hold weekly meetings to monitor preparedness and oversee the government’s response.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was tasked with preparing an emergency fund to be used in case of monsoon-related disasters. The prime minister further instructed that projects financed by international organisations should be utilised to strengthen national and local institutions. He noted that the federal government had allocated Rs330 billion in the current fiscal year to accelerate water sector projects aimed at improving long-term water security.
Calling for proactive measures, PM Shehbaz directed authorities to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to deal with potential flooding, drawing on lessons from previous years. He also instructed provincial governments to remove encroachments and resolve issues obstructing river channels and flood pathways in vulnerable districts before heavy rains begin. “All institutions must utilise their full administrative and technical capacity for the convenience and safety of the public,” he said.
The NDMA chairman briefed the meeting on expected rainfall patterns and climate trends, warning of prolonged heatwaves and above-normal rainfall in July. He said necessary arrangements were being made under a proposed strategy to deal with anticipated weather conditions and possible flooding.
Focus on Overseas Pakistanis
Earlier, PM Shehbaz also directed the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for improving welfare initiatives for expatriates. Meeting with OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza and Managing Director Afzaal Bhatti, the prime minister described overseas Pakistanis as a “valuable asset of the nation” who contribute significantly to foreign exchange remittances.
He urged the OPF to bring further momentum to ongoing projects and initiatives, while expressing satisfaction with the foundation’s efforts. The OPF officials briefed him on measures to promote welfare and facilities for overseas Pakistanis, and paid tribute to his government’s role in promoting global peace.
Overseas Pakistanis contribute nearly $40 billion annually, supporting household incomes, financing imports, and stabilising external accounts. Remittances have repeatedly cushioned the economy during crises and remain one of the few indicators showing sustained growth. In December 2025, remittances rose to a record $3.6 billion. However, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics warned earlier this year that inflows could decline by $3-4 billion due to conflict in the Middle East.
The institute also noted that around 700,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis travel to Gulf countries for employment annually, but if the conflict continues, about 500,000 expatriates may not be able to secure jobs abroad in 2026.
