U.S. provided Flash Flood Guidance System to Pakistan

Islamabad: U.S. has provided a Flash Flood Guidance System to Pakistan. The Flash Flood Guidance System for Pakistan has been developed by Hydrologic Research Centre (HRC), USA through joint collaboration among the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), U.S. National Weather Service, USAID, HRC, USA and PMD with a cost of around US $ 99000. The development of Flash Flood Guidance System for Pakistan was conceived during WMO Expert Mission that visited Pakistan in November, 2010 in wake of 2010 Super Floods.

A 3-day training workshop for the FFGS software/hardware design, functionality and maintenance requirements was held at PMD Headquarters, Islamabad. The training workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Arif Mahmood, Director General PMD and Mr. Ahmed Kamal, Member (DRR), NDMA on 16th August, 2011. The closing ceremony held on 18th August, 2011 was chaired by Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, Advisor (Met. and Climate Affairs) to the Ministry of Defence.

In his address, Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry offered sincere gratitude to HRC, USA, USAID and WMO for their efforts in developing the initial version of Flash Flood Guidance System for Pakistan. He further envisaged that the implementation of Flash Flood Guidance System in Pakistan will help in improving protection of life and property against flash floods.

The main objective of the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) is to provide near real-time guidance products pertaining to the imminence of potential small-scale flash flooding throughout Pakistan. Though the initial version of Flash Flood Guidance System has been implemented at Met. Office, Islamabad, the validation and calibration of the System will continue for the next 2-3 years through joint efforts and collaboration of the scientists of PMD and HRC in order to improve the Flash Flood Guidance System utilization and efficiency.

For more information, contact:
Pakistan Meteorological Department
Sector H-8/2, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +9251 925 0360 -1
Fax: +9251 925 0368
Email: pakmet_islamabad@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.pakmet.com.pk