ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid on Thursday informed the National Assembly Rs 177 billon had been earmarked for National Floods Protection Programme and its implementation would start after approval of Council of Common Interests (CCI) next meeting.
Replying to question regarding steps taken by the government to control floods in future, the minister that Federal Flood Commission after long consultation has prepared 10 years National Floods Protection Programme.
Giving details of the programme, he said this massive integrated flood management programme include non-structural and structural measures and consultation with provinces were still in progress.
He said that about Rs 20.22 billion had been allocated for non-structural measures that include better management of water from dams, floods forecasting, early warning system and disaster management.
He said that structural measures were related to flood protection works and for it Rs 156 billion had been earmarked for it.
Flood protection plan was prepared in consultation with Ministry of Water and Power and presented for Council of Common Interest (CCI) on 25th March, 2016 and pending before (CCI) for final approval, he said. .
He said that Federal Flood Commission (FFC) of Pakistan and Provincial Irrigation Departments were responsible for prevention and mitigation of floods. Early flood warning, weather forecasts, weather warnings/alerts is responsibility of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Federal Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) which is a subordinate department of Pakistan Meteorological Department, he added.
The minister said that National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) were responsible for flood lighting and response.
The minister said that there was no proposal under consideration with Ministry of Climate Change to conduct a study on climate implications of coal to gas substitution in power generation.
However, Ministry of Climate Change has conducted the National Impact Assessment Programme (NIAP) and developed guidelines for coal fired plants in Pakistan.
He said that government had approved National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) which has identified mitigation actions with the purpose to reduce all Green House Gases (GHG) emissions including methane. However, mining is a provincial subject and activities related to it are conducted by respective/provincial mining departments
