- Climate change worsens drought and water stress.
- The government is seeking a proactive risk-based response.
- The workshop aims to finalize the operational framework.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Humera Moriani has highlighted the urgent need for Pakistan to move from a reactive to a proactive, risk-based approach to drought management, warning that climate change is making droughts more frequent and more severe.
Addressing a national consultative workshop on the National Drought Action Plan in Islamabad, he said drought was no longer a distant or occasional threat but an increasingly persistent challenge driven by rising temperatures, water stress and climate variability.
“Pakistan is already among countries facing high water risk and drought directly affects agriculture, water resources, food security, ecosystems and livelihoods,” he said, adding that previous responses had largely focused on post-impact relief rather than preparedness.
Moriani highlighted the need for a coordinated institutional and policy framework to translate data into action. He acknowledged the role of the International Water Management Institute, Pakistan Meteorological Department and their partners in developing the Pakistan Drought Management System, which provides real-time early warning and monitoring capabilities.
“This is an important step forward. However, data alone is not enough. We need systems that ensure timely decisions based on data and evidence and implementation on the ground,” he said.
The secretary informed the participants that the ministry, with the support of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and after extensive consultations, had developed a National Drought Action Plan. The plan is structured around key pillars, including planning and resource mobilization, governance and policy, early warning systems, local mitigation actions and capacity development.
The workshop, attended by representatives from federal and provincial governments, development partners and organizations such as IWMI, PMD, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, aimed to finalize an operational framework to implement the plan.
Participants discussed the identification of priority sectors, the definition of institutional roles and responsibilities, and the development of a roadmap for short, medium, and long-term actions.
Moriani emphasized that effective drought management required strong coordination between federal and provincial governments, technical agencies and development partners.
“Drought is a cross-sector challenge and requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he stressed.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Coordination reiterated her ministry’s commitment to facilitate coordination with key stakeholders, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), PMD and provincial departments, and urged participants to contribute technical inputs to finalize a practical and nationally owned action plan.
The expected outcomes of the workshop included an operational framework document outlining institutional functions and coordination mechanisms, identification of priority sectors for drought risk reduction, and proposals to establish a National Drought Management Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee. A roadmap for implementation, including timelines and reporting structures, is also expected.
