ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan has started braving dual impact of climate change with growing frequency of floods, the government has decided to Rs67 billion from international donors to fund 600 projects over the next 10 years.
The projects are the part of a comprehensive plan to prevent damage from floods. This was the crux of a consultative workshop to contemplate National Flood Protection Plan and seek funding it.
Organised by Water and Power Secretary Muhammad Younus Dagha, the consultative workshop included officials from the World Bank, the Federal Flood Commission, the Water and Power Ministry, the National and Provincial Disaster Management Agencies, and provincial governments. The plan presented at the workshop includes measures to prepare for the 2015 monsoon season.
The meetings this week are the culmination of an 18-month process of consultations among various stakeholders to finalise the plan. National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) and a Netherlands-based firm Deltares have been engaged as consultants to carry out surveys and studies in an integrated manner to develop the plan. Participants will finalise proposals regarding reducing flooding, reducing susceptibility to damage in the wake of floods and mitigating flood impact on citizens. The plan is meant to incorporate the lessons learnt from recent floods.
