PAKISTAN is in the list of top ten countries affected by climate change and its repercussions have already been felt across the country. Apart from heat waves, monsoon rains, and droughts in summer, the chilly winter this year caused havoc as temperatures fell to -25 in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, followed by a strong spell of heavy snowfall.

According to National Disaster Management Authority nearly 87 lives were lost in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and GB in recent snowfall and avalanches.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department had already forecast greater than normal rain/snowfall in the northern part of the country during this winter. Keeping in view the difficult terrain of Gilgit-Baltistan and other vulnerable districts, the federal and provincial governments need to activate relevant departments, particularly the Natural Disaster Management Authority, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, and other relevant NGOs to coordinate their efforts and resources, so that rescue, relief and rehabilitation programmes can be carried out effectively in emergencies.

Mass awareness programmes should be initiated regarding extreme weather. Finally, the government should provide to the effectees necessary equipment such as snow cleaning machineries, excavators and tents, besides depositing food items, fuel and medicines in each district in advance.

Karim Muhammad Khan

Gilgit-Baltistan

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2020