Modernising meteorology

Amid the political blame game that has been going on vis-a-vis the performance of the power sector ever since the deadly heatwave in Karachi unleashed its fury and which has so far claimed at least 750 victims, one aspect that has not been given the attention it deserved is the performance of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The climatic hazards we have faced over the past few years, including flooding, earthquakes, cyclones, landslides and now the heatwave in Karachi should make us aware that we need a far more advanced system for forecasting weather. The PMD is outdated in its methodology and lacks the tools required to track weather conditions as they develop.

Given the rapid climate change we are seeing across the world, which also affects our region, this is nothing short of a disaster. Experts have pointed out that the heatwave that swept across northern India a month ago, claiming nearly 2,500 lives should have acted as a warning that we could face similar conditions in our country soon. This did not happen and one of the outcomes is the pall of death which hangs over Karachi. There have also been warnings from experts that the heatwave we are seeing could trigger heavy rains in various parts of the country, unleashing flash floods and hill torrents. We know what damage such phenomena can cause. The importance of having the ability to more or less accurately forecast extreme weather events cannot be emphasised enough. It is essential that the PMD is fully equipped to do this and send out alerts which can then enable the authorities to institute preventive measures to save lives, as well as create awareness among the public regarding any possible dangers that may lie ahead. Beyond the issue of technology, there is also the question of political will. When forecasts are made, it is important that administrations then act on them quickly, evacuate people when necessary and do everything possible to save lives and property. This may not always be possible, but modern science makes it feasible. We need a properly devised rescue plan to deal with such hazards. With the impact of climate change becoming increasingly apparent the world over due to global warming, it has become all the more necessary that we depend on accurate forecasts based on scientific means rather than on traditional patterns of weather remaining intact, which is no longer likely to happen.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.

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