The Pakistani government has finalised an agreement with Japan for the procurement and installation of telemetry stations and automatic weather stations for improved flood forecasting and weather monitoring system.
A total 84 weather monitoring systems have already been shortlisted for Punjab and 26 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Earlier, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced plans to enhance its weather monitoring capabilities by installing modern surveillance radars and automatic weather stations across the country.
Cost weather monitoring system
The agreement of weather monitoring system has costed almost Rs5.2 billion.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would be extending Rs4.11 billion equivalent of financing while the remaining Rs1.01 billion would be arranged by WAPA, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC), PMD and provincial irrigation departments.
JICA funding will also cover the establishment of a data centre aimed at strengthening and improving the early flood warning system in the country maintained and operated by the PMD.
The project also covers improvement of the 1,543-metre flood protection infrastructure in KP.
Floods in Pakistan
Pakistan is a flood-prone country with a history of extensive and recurrent flooding and droughts that have resulted in human and livestock casualties, significant damage to property and infrastructure.
The magnification of vulnerability during the devastation of flooding in Pakistan in the summer of 2022 was due to poor developmental planning, extractive political institutions, and climate change.
