Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to ensure early preparedness to avert the rain-related losses of life and property in next year’s monsoon, and implement the short-term plan presented by the climate change ministry.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review measures to prevent damage from next year’s monsoon, approved the short-term plan presented by the Ministry of Climate Change and instructed its immediate implementation.

He asked the Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Planning, and National Disaster Management Authority to work in coordination with provincial governments for integrated planning on climate change.

He also called for preparations to convene a meeting of the National Water Council to carry out national-level planning on water management.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that, being a developing country, Pakistan had to spend a significant portion of its GDP to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change, which otherwise could be used for development projects.

He said that, unfortunately, Pakistan was faced with the negative impacts of climate change despite having almost a negligible contribution to carbon emissions.

The meeting was briefed on global forecasts and indicators regarding next year’s monsoon.

The Ministry of Climate Change briefed on short, medium, and long-term plans.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Dr Musadik Malik, Ataullah Tarar, and relevant senior officials.