Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The technical equipment and radars held by the ministry of climate change for weather forecast have gone outdated.

According to meteorological authorities’ radar working in Sialkot for weather forecast was installed in 1978 while the life span of every radar was 10 years. In Pakistan all the radars had become 20 years old and they were being still utilised. These could be harmful at any time as they were creating difficulties in providing information about weather forecast in terms of air weather.

The Senate Committee on Climate Change met here under its Chairman Muhammad Yousuf Barini at the Parliament House.

The committee recommended that immediate steps be taken for replacing the outdated equipment and radars. The committee also summoned the next meeting in Bhuban Murree on the matter of possible climate change at the world level.

The DG Met Office Dr Israr while giving a briefing to the standing committee on Monday said 22 radars were needed to obtain information about the weather situation. In Pakistan only seven radars were installed and they had gone outmoded.

“We have to face a difficulty in forecasting the weather as the radars are outdated and dysfunctional. We are also facing problems in forecasting rains for want of state of the art technology. We fail in taking timely steps to deal with floods and natural calamities and this way a huge loss to life and property is caused”, he added.

The Met Office authorities said investment of billions of rupees was being made in the world with reference to climate change while in Pakistan they had outdated equipment and radars. The radar installed in Sialkot was 37 years old and all the radars had gone outmoded. However they were being utilised.

They said that every radar had a 10-year life span while all the radars held by the ministry of climate change were 20 years old. 22 radars are needed. “We are facing a difficulty in ascertaining the climate situation for air operation for want of funds. This state of affairs has put the lives of people at stake”.

The report has been presented to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The PM has decided to purchase equipment after six years.

The climate change ministry authorities told the committee that heavy rains ere likely to lash Balochistan in the next two days. Balochistan province has been informed in this respect.

The NDMA told the committee that the NDMA was fully cooperating with the ministry of climate change and several reports had also been worked out in terms of climate change which hadbeen provided to the respective ministry. 18 out of 48 equipments installed in different districts had been closed as they were out of order. Steps were being taken to deal with any emergency.

The CDA environment member told the committee that 300 temporary employees were appointed at the national park by the CDA every year and every employee was paid Rs 12000 per month as compensation When they were removed from jobs they torched the jungle. Steps to check this were being taken in collaboration with the Islamabad Police.

The chairman standing committee said the government was not serious in climate change matters. Immediate steps were needed. The matter needed to be raised in the parliament, he stressed.