Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik has said that while Pakistan is battling the ongoing flood disaster, preparations must begin now for the next monsoon season to prevent a repeat of the large-scale destruction the country is witnessing this year.

Addressing a joint press briefing in Islamabad with Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant-General Inam Haider Malik, the minister said climate change is accelerating global weather shifts, and Pakistan is among the countries bearing the brunt.

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency to mitigate further damage. But we must look ahead — planning for the next monsoon cannot be delayed,” Dr Malik emphasised.

He confirmed that the second surge of floodwaters has reached Panjnad, while Sialkot and Narowal have suffered severe devastation.

So far, 930 lives have been lost in rains and floods across the country. He also lauded welfare organisations and private groups for their role in relief efforts.

Lt-Gen Inam Haider briefed that over 2.4 million people in Punjab and 150,000 in Sindh have been evacuated to safer areas.

While the situation in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers remains under control, heavy flows continue at Head Panjnad and Guddu Barrage. Crops have sustained major losses, and in some cases, protective embankments were breached to ease water pressure.

He added that the current rain spell is likely to persist until the end of September, with fresh showers expected between September 16 and 18 in central Punjab and Azad Kashmir.

NDMA has already provided Punjab with 9,000 tents and more than 9,000 tons of rations.

Both officials stressed that Pakistan’s disaster response will only be effective if future preparations start early, with lessons from this year’s floods guiding planning for the next monsoon.