PMD Initiates Project to Upgrade Flood Warning System

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has commenced a significant project to upgrade the nation’s early flood warning and weather forecasting capabilities. This initiative is financed by the World Bank under the Integrated Flood Resilience Adaptation Project (IFRAP).

The project, named “Modernisation of Hydromet Services of Pakistan (MHSP),” is geared towards bolstering Pakistan’s resilience to climate change. This will be achieved by enhancing the PMD’s ability to produce, assess, and share dependable hydrometeorological information, according to a statement.

Official documentation reveals intentions to install 110 Automatic Weather Stations, four Fixed Weather Surveillance Radars, and a High-Performance Computing System.

The plan also involves engaging System Integrator and Radar Consultancy firms, improving the Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (IMG) and the Meteorological Workshop in Karachi, modernizing various observatories, creating Regional Climate Data Processing Centres, and developing a National Framework for Climate Services along with a National Hydromet Policy.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, the MHSP is designed to refine flood forecasting, improve early warning systems, and strengthen climate risk management strategies throughout the country.

An allocation of Rs2,998.6 million has been made to the project under the FY2025–26 Public Sector Development Programme. For the current quarter, Rs206 million has been designated. Expenditures for FY2025–26 have reached Rs32.78 million, bringing total spending since the project’s inception to Rs312.78 million.

As of September 2025, substantial technical progress has been made. The procurement phase for Automatic Weather Stations has been concluded, with contract signing anticipated soon. Financial proposals for the System Integrator Consultancy have been reviewed, and technical assessments for the Radar Consultancy are ongoing.

The acquisition of Weather Surveillance Radars is in its final stages, awaiting approval of the finalized technical specifications from the World Bank. A civil works consultancy firm has been involved since March 2025, and bids to upgrade the IMG and the Meteorological Workshop are currently undergoing technical evaluation.

The PMD has also requested tax exemptions and proposed supplementary funding of USD 42 million, which includes USD 18.21 million for duties and taxes, USD 13.79 million to cover increased market expenses, and USD 10 million to address the funding shortfall.

A senior official from the Planning Ministry stated that the MHSP’s completion will signify a considerable advancement in Pakistan’s preparedness for disasters and its ability to withstand climate-related challenges. It will facilitate more precise and prompt forecasts crucial for agriculture, management of water resources, and mitigation of disaster risks throughout the nation.