RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director General and Vice President of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association II Sahibzada Khan emphasised PMD’s crucial role in providing hydrometeorological and geophysical services to the nation under the WMO initiative Early Warnings for All.

He was addressing at an International Workshop on Aviation Meteorologyorganised by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in collaboration with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), and Sialkot International Airport Limited at a local hotel on Tuesday.

This was the first-ever international workshop on Aviation Meteorology held in Pakistan, as well as in South Asia. Defence Secretary retired Lt-Gen Mohammad Ali was the chief guest.

The PMD director general further highlighted the importance of PMD’s aviation meteorology services in ensuring safe and efficient air navigation amid increasing climate variability in Pakistan.

Dr Syed Faisal Saeed, Chief Organiser of the workshop, briefed the audience on the aims and objectives of the event.

He said that the workshop is a milestone initiative in the field of aviation meteorology, aimed at fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance aviation safety through improved meteorological services.

Defence Secretary Mohammad Ali, in his inaugural address, appreciated the initiative taken by PMD in organising the international workshop.

He stressed that such international events should also be conducted at the regional level and emphasized that multi-departmental collaboration is pivotal to ensuring safe air navigation in view of the challenges posed by climate change.

Senior representatives from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) also spoke on the occasion and stressed the need for enhanced coordination and collaboration among all stakeholders to further strengthen aviation safety mechanisms in Pakistan.

Participants appreciated the initiative and termed the workshop a significant step forward in the advancement of aviation meteorology.

They emphasised the importance of organising such workshops regularly in the future to promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, and inter-agency cooperation.

The two-day workshop brought together local and international experts in aviation meteorology, aviation professionals, academicians, scholars, and other stakeholders associated with the fields of aviation and meteorology.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026