Establishment of specialized medium range weather forecasting center and strengthening of weather forecasting system

Islamabad, November 13, 2014 (PPI-OT): Government of Pakistan is committed towards promoting the culture of resilience to natural disasters through implementation of roadmap identified under ten year National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP, 2013-22) and priority actions and programs by all relevant Federal, Provincial, State and Regional departments/agencies besides at the local level in a phased manner.

In this context joint efforts and investments on effective implementation of NDMP by public sector institutions as well as bilateral and multilateral donors including the UN System shall lead to achieve the overall objective of making Pakistan a disaster resilient country in consonance with international and regional commitments of Pakistan.

In the above context, and to implement through Japanese Government’s Grant Aid an important Priority-I project identified under NDMA’s National Multi Hazard Early Warning System Plan of NDMP namely “Project for Establishment of Specialized Medium Range Weather Forecasting Centre and Strengthening of Weather Forecasting System”, a signing ceremony was held in Economic Affairs Division (EAD) today.

H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan in Pakistan and Mr. Saleem Sethi, Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD) signed the bilateral agreement on the details of implementation of the project. Representatives from EAD, Japanese Embassy, NDMA and JICA-Pakistan were also present on the occasion. Member (DRR), NDMA, Ahmed Kamal represented NDMA.

The project worth Rs 2.5 billion has been recently approved by the CDWP of the P and D Division and shall be implemented by PMD and broadly include establishment of a specialized Medium Range Forecasting Centre in PMD Head Office Islamabad and establishment of the Upper Air Observation System at five (5) locations at Chitral, Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi. Establishment of environmental (weather related) Monitoring and Weather Surveillance Radar system in Islamabad is also included under the project.

The main objective of the project is to make available medium range forecasts (country wide, 3-10 days) using higher performance computer than current numerical prediction system. It will ensure timely dissemination of accurate severe weather forecasts and warnings to the important vulnerable districts of Pakistan as well as to obtain highly accurate rainfall intensity and to detect accurate weather situation by utilizing radar composite pictures (based on radar networking).

The implementation of this project will facilitate PMD and related disaster management authorities in improving efficiency and timely sharing of information, placement of timely pre-emptive and mitigation measures to avoid risk of loss of life and property in case of any hydro-meteorological disaster.

For more information, contact:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Prime Minister’s Office, 2nd Floor,
Sector G-5-1, Constitution Avenue,
Post Code 44000, Islamabad
UAN: +92-51-111-157-157
Tel: +92-51-9205037
Fax: +92-51-9205086
Email: info@ndma.gov.pk
Website: www.ndma.gov.pk