Minister of State for Climate Change Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that the government has launched a short-term, 240-day climate action plan aimed at boosting the country’s flood resilience ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
Responding to questions during the question hour, She said the newly approved plan outlines 14 key interventions to be implemented across the country. These include the construction of monsoon ponds in flood-prone districts, upgrades to flood forecasting and early-warning systems, establishment of emergency logistics networks, and integration of flood control, water management, and climate adaptation measures into provincial development strategies.
The minister said the plan was developed following a meeting convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 19, reflecting Islamabad’s recognition of climate change as a dire and growing threat to Pakistan. “Despite our relatively small share of global emissions, Pakistan faces disproportionately severe impacts – from flash floods and cloudbursts to worsening air quality,” she told lawmakers.
She said water-regulation councils will register the planned interventions, and new “monsoon ponds” will help collect and manage excess rainfall and floodwaters, reducing disaster risk.
On pollution and air quality, the minister said the government is taking a series of coordinated measures to address deteriorating air quality, particularly in Punjab’s major cities, which remain heavily affected by smog.
The minister said all provinces were undertaking efforts to combat air pollution, adding that Sindh had taken notable steps. She said Punjab, especially Lahore, Faisalabad and other urban centres, had introduced a wide range of initiatives to curb smog and improve air quality.
She noted that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif had introduced “smog guns” and established a state-of-the-art monitoring mechanism that provides 24-hour real-time information on air quality across districts. In the agriculture sector, she said the provincial government had deployed equipment such as smart seeders and happy seeders to discourage stubble burning, thereby reducing emissions at source.
The minister added that Punjab had also upgraded brick kilns by introducing zigzag technology to eliminate hazardous white smoke, while strict compliance measures were being enforced on industrial waste management.
Regarding Islamabad, she said the major contributor to pollution was the transport sector. Nearly 800 heavy vehicles operating with outdated engines and low-quality fuel had been impounded. She said many brick kilns in the Islamabad Capital Territory had either been shut down or required to shift to modern, cleaner technologies.
“Concrete, time-bound actions are the need of the hour,” the minister told lawmakers. “This short-term plan reflects the seriousness of the government’s commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to protect communities, safeguard natural resources and improve quality of life.”
The minister added that provincial governments are already being coordinated to begin implementation. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing pollution levels and improving environmental governance nationwide.