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Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik revealed that the authority has drones capable of carrying up to 100 kilograms during emergencies.
The announcement was made during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination on July 03.
Speaking to the committee, chaired by MNA Munza Hassan, Lt. Gen. Malik explained that the NDMA uses advanced technology, including a modern control room, to monitor natural disasters and provide timely alerts to provinces to ensure that local administrations can act swiftly to take preventive steps before damage escalates.
READ: Nine bodies recovered as flash floods hit Swat river
He clarified that the NDMA only intervenes in major disasters that overwhelm local capabilities. “We inform provinces in advance, and our central role begins when a disaster crosses manageable limits,” the NDMA chief added.
Climate Change Concerns
Discussing Pakistan’s climate vulnerability, the NDMA Chairman warned that the country ranks fourth among nations most threatened by climate change, highlighting growing risks from glacier melting, floods, and rapid deforestation.
He also noted a water crisis is looming: “By 2025, Pakistan could become the 15th most water-scarce country in the world,” he cautioned.
Rainfall this year is expected to be above normal, particularly in Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan – raising further concern over possible flash floods.
The Chairman urged that climate change be treated as a national emergency, requiring coordination between federal, provincial, and local authorities, along with global support.
