Musadik Malik calls for smarter water management

Climate Minister Musadik Malik has called for a major shift in Pakistan’s water management strategy, saying the country must focus not only on storing water but also on regulating its supply throughout the year.

Speaking at a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Malik said effective water management was essential for protecting food supplies, supporting agriculture and reducing the impact of climate-related disasters.

His remarks came as Pakistan faces another difficult monsoon season. At least 107 people have died and 297 others have been injured since the current rainy season began on June 26, according to disaster management authorities.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast another strong spell of monsoon rains from July 29. Heavy rainfall could trigger urban flooding, flash floods and landslides in several parts of the country.

Malik said Pakistan needed different climate strategies for different regions instead of relying on a single nationwide approach. Plans are being developed for cities facing extreme heat, northern areas vulnerable to floods and landslides, and agricultural regions where changing weather patterns are threatening food production.

He stressed that water must be available when farmers need it during the Rabi and Kharif seasons. According to the minister, simply allowing large quantities of floodwater to escape without regulating or storing it creates serious risks for agriculture and food security.

Malik described water infrastructure as a national security issue. He said the government would focus on improving water regulation, telemetry and storage systems. It would also work with provincial governments to improve zoning and construction standards in disaster-prone areas.

National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan would require greater water storage capacity in the coming years. He said the country faced two linked challenges: controlling floods and dealing with water shortages.

Tanveer said climate change was already changing crop cultivation and sowing patterns. He stressed that agriculture would need to adapt to shifting weather conditions to protect food supplies.

The minister said Pakistan was among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with agriculture facing some of the strongest impacts. He recalled the huge economic losses caused by the 2022 floods but said the country’s disaster response capabilities had improved since then.

He said the government had started modifying crop cycles and cultivation patterns in response to changing climatic conditions. Authorities are also working on a broader strategy to strengthen agricultural resilience.

Tanveer highlighted several major water projects. He said the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would provide around 6.4 million acre-feet of additional storage capacity, while the Mohmand Dam would add nearly one million acre-feet. He also mentioned progress on the Dasu project and expressed hope that the K-IV water supply project for Karachi would be completed by the end of this year or early next year.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described climate change and population growth as major long-term challenges for Pakistan. He called for a coordinated response involving all parts of the government.

Aurangzeb said the country was now better prepared financially to respond to natural disasters. He said the government had decided to use domestic resources for rescue and relief operations instead of relying primarily on international assistance.

He said Pakistan had launched a $2 billion programme aimed at strengthening climate resilience and reducing environmental risks. Around $700 million annually has also been allocated for disaster management, vulnerability reduction and protection of lives and infrastructure.

The finance minister said Pakistan’s disaster financing approach had changed significantly since the 2022 floods. The country had previously relied heavily on international commitments, but authorities are now increasing domestic funding for climate adaptation and emergency response.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said preparations for the current monsoon season had started before the rains arrived. He credited NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) with improving forecasting and early warning capabilities.

Tarar said the system had helped authorities issue timely alerts about dangerous weather events. He urged citizens to follow official warnings and take precautions during periods of heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, flooding continues in parts of Punjab and other regions. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said water levels in the Chenab River had shown some improvement, while low-level flooding persisted at several locations along the Indus.