ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Climate Change has issued an advisory to the provinces, asking them to prepare for the upcoming heatwaves and suggesting seven steps to be taken to avoid the human casualties observed in the previous year.

The advisory, issued on the directives of Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid, warns that the heatwave that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people in Karachi in 2015 is predicted for this year as well. All the provinces should prepare themselves against heatwaves, says the letter.

It adds that the domain of the ministry is limited to coordination and facilitation and the power to implement and take practical action against any calamity rests with the provinces.

“Last year, the ministry took a pro-active approach to investigate the heatwave issue and constituted a committee comprising experts of the weather phenomenon. A report was issued by the panel, which comprised Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, Dr Ghulam Rasool, Ahmed Kamal, Munir Ahmed Mangrio and Shabaz Mahmood. The findings were based on thorough research of the causes and effects of the drastic weather and also contained recommendations on how to avoid such a situation in the future,” the advisory says.

The provinces have been asked to increase the capacity of individuals and communities to respond to the heat stress by organising a heat health awareness campaign before the onset of the season.

Subjects on disasters due to different natural hazards and their management may be included in the curriculum at the school and college levels. Green spaces may be increased by tree plantation in the major cities on an emergency basis.

Provinces are further suggested that the heat island effect can be counteracted slightly by using white or reflective materials to build houses, roofs, pavements and roads, thus increasing the overall albedo of the city. “Green roofs are another method of decreasing the urban heat islands effect. Green roof is the practice of having vegetation on a rooftop. The plants increase the albedo and decrease the urban heat island effect,” the advisory informs.

It is also recommended that proper town planning rules and regulations may be observed for all ongoing and future townships.

The provinces have been suggested to establish “Cool Centres” with provision of drinking water, fans etc at public places and along main avenues, beside protecting and developing tree shaded rest areas.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2016