An inauguration ceremony for the project of “Rainwater Harvesting for Groundwater Recharge in Islamabad” was held with the attendance of Honorable Chief Guest, Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Usman Younas, Chief Commission/Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad, Dr Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Mr. Sahibzad Khan, Director General, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Sardar Khan Zimri, Deputy Director General, Water Management, CDA, Islamabad.

The honourable guests were welcomed by Mr. Sahibzad Khan, Director General, PMD along with the senior officers of PMD. Director General, PMD appreciated the project and emphasis such a project should be launched in the rest of the urban cities of Pakistan to mitigate the challenges of climate change on groundwater depletion/recharge. The chairman, PCRWR briefed about the importance and design of the project. The Deputy Director General, Water Management (CDA), briefed about the other rainwater harvesting sites and installation challenges in Islamabad. The Chief Guest appreciated the efforts made by CDA and PCRWR. Later on, the rainwater harvesting site for groundwater recharge was inaugurated by the Chief Guest. The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Zahid Rafi, Chief Meteorologist, PMD.

The honourable Chief Guest thanked the Director General, PMD for their warm welcome and hospitality. Director General, PMD thanked the Honorable Chief Commissioner/ Chairman CDA, Islamabad for sparing valuable moments and acknowledging the role and services of PMD.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr. Christian Turner CMG, visited Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Headquarters Office Islamabad, on 02nd November, 2022. The honorable guest was welcomed by the Director General, PMD, Mr. Sahibzad Khan along with the senior officers of PMD.

Dr. Christian Turner and Director General, PMD along with his team visited the Weather Surveillance Radar, Islamabad. Honorable High Commissioner showed keen interest in the operation of the Radar. The delegation also visited National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) and Seismic Monitoring Center at Met. Headquarter PMD, Islamabad. They were also briefed about the installations of Flash Flood Early Warning Center for Nullah Lai Basin. Honorable High Commissioner took keen interest in the working of PMD and appreciated the efforts being made in provision of weather information and early warning.

Honorable High Commissioner thanked the Director General, PMD for their warm welcome and hospitality. Director General, PMD thanked the Honorable High Commissioner for sparing valuable moments and acknowledging the role and services of PMD in weather forecasting and seismic monitoring. Later on, the honorable guest planted a tree in the premises of PMD.

Some private social media accounts are creating sensationalism, disinformation and hype regarding Pakistan weather forecast without any source and scientific evidences. PMD strongly denies such statements being based on speculation. PMD warns so-called Weather Experts to avoid causing unnecessary hype & panic on behalf of PMD. All the stakeholders are requested to not pay attention on this erroneous information/news. PMD is closely monitoring the monsoon and will share the authenticated weather information to the stakeholders, print electronic media and general public whenever required.

A Japanese delegation headed by Honorable Parliamentary Vice Minister Foreign Affair, Japan Mr. Taro Honda visited Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Headquarters Office, Islamabad on 03rd August, 2022. The honorable guests were welcomed by the Director General, PMD Mr. Sahibzad Khan along with the senior officers of PMD.

Vice Minister of Japan Mr. Taro Honda and Director General, PMD along with his team visited the newly completed Specialized Medium Range Weather Forecasting Centre, Islamabad and observed its operationalization for Weather Forecasting of Pakistan. The delegation also visited Weather Surveillance Radar & Wind Profiler, National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC), HPC facility, SMRFC at Met Headquarter PMD, Islamabad. They were also briefed about the installations of Early Warning for Nullah Lai. The Japanese delegation took keen interest in the working of PMD in general and appreciated the efforts being made in provision of information and early warning services. The visiting delegation thanked the Director General, PMD for their warm welcome and hospitality.

Director General, PMD thanked the delegation for extending cooperation to Pakistan in the field of Early Warning expertise.

Pakistan Meteorological Department in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), University of Leeds UK and Met Office UK organized a Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Socioeconomic Benefits of Weather and Climate Services in Pakistan at Ramada Hotel Islamabad on 2nd August 2022.

Director General, PMD, Mahr Sahibzad Khan welcomed the distinguished delegates and briefly highlighted on the meteorological services being rendered and socio-economic benefits being obtained by the wide variety of socio-economic sectors. He stressed on the best and efficient utilization of Met. services specifically in agriculture sector.

Dr. Mandira Shrestha from ICIMOD also briefed on the key points of the study and efforts being made recommendations on further coordinated actions and planning practices for maximum yield and minimizing the losses due to the harsh weather and climate in general.

Participants from sectoral organizations like agriculture, academia and scientists and researcher participated the event and shared their experiences and expertise for the improvement and efficient services delivery processes.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Headquarters office, Islamabad, between PMD and Islamia University, Bahawalpur (IUB), on 29th June 2022, by Mr. Sahibzad Khan, Director General, Meteorological Services and Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob (TI), Vice Chancellor, Islamia University, Bahawalpur.

This MoU is aimed at collaborating with each other to build prosperous Pakistan by using efficient use of climatic and meteorological information in the development of the agriculture sector, forests, and water resources in a spirit of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The intervention includes but is not limited to capacity building, strengthening research and development in climatic and agricultural sciences, conducting joint training/certifications, data sharing, quality improvement, and developing a sustainable program that will work with the collaboration of all key stakeholders.

A four-member Technical Expert Group/Delegation from Hungary visited Pakistan Meteorological Department, Headquarters Office, Islamabad on 17th May, 2022. The honorable guests were warmly welcomed by the Director General, PMD Mr. Sahibzad Khan along with the senior officers of PMD.

Director General, PMD gave a detailed presentation regarding flood forecasting and early warning systems including the new weather surveillance radar in Islamabad. The Hungarian delegation took keen interest in the working of PMD in general and appreciated the efforts being made in provision of information and early warnings for hydrometeorological and geophysical disasters.

Later the Technical Expert Group visited the key units of PMD. Director, National Weather Forecasting Center and Director, Engineering gave comprehensive briefing on the activities of their centers and role in the disaster mitigation at national level.

Director General, PMD thanked the delegation for extending cooperation to Pakistan in the field of water management.

The inaugural ceremony of Weather Surveillance Radar Karachi was held at Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Met Complex University Road, Karachi today. The federal Minister of Aviation Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. A new state of the art S-Band Doppler weather Radar became operational with the generous support of Government of Japan. The Chief Guest thanking the Government of Japan and JICA highlighted the fact that Karachi Radar would help PMD in monitoring & tracking the Tropical Cyclone in the Arabian Sea, heavy rain-thunderstorms within 450 km radius and maximum winds within 200km through its Doppler feature and hence to prepare effective early warnings. Which would help to mitigate the human & infrastructural damages. The chief guest also paid gratitude to the Japan Govt for pledging the two more Radars for Multan and Sukkur whose work would get underway soon.

Mr. Toshikazu ISOMURA, the Consul General Govt of Japan, Mr. Shigeki FURUTA, Chief Representative JICA Office Pakistan, Mr. Mir Hassan Naqvi, Sr. Joint Secretary, Aviation Division, Mr. Sahibzad Khan, DG-PMD, DG Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), DG PDMA, Sindh, Representatives Red Crescent Sindh, Hands & other stakeholders also attended ceremony.

In his welcome speech, DG- PMD thanked the Government of Japan for their gracious cooperation and support for installation of such latest technology Radar in Pakistan through JICA. He elaborated that the newly installed Weather Radar is a state-of-the-art technology with added Doppler feature. Which will be helpful to determine the structure of storm and their potential to cause severe weather.

Mr. Toshikazu ISOMURA, the Consul General Govt of Japan in his speech said that the Government of Japan had previously provided Radar in early 90’s. He further said considering that Pakistan constantly is facing floods, cyclones and other natural hazards, the Govt of Japan decided to support Pakistan with latest Radar technology to effectively & efficiently deal with increasing natural disasters. He appreciated the efforts of PMD Engineers for keeping old Radars operational for over 30 years.

The Chief Meteorologist and Project Director, WSR, presented the souvenirs to the Chief Guest Consul General of Japan and Chief Representative of JICA.

Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz (Hilal-e-Imtiaz Military) visited Pakistan Meteorological Department, Headquarters Office, Islamabad on 3rd March, 2022. The honorable guest was warmly welcomed by the Director General, PMD Mr. Sahibzad Khan along with the senior officers of PMD. Chairman, NDMA visited the key units of PMD. Director, National Seismic Monitoring Center and Deputy Director, Research & Development Division gave comprehensive briefing on the activities of their centers and role in the disaster mitigation at national level. Chairman, NDMA took keen interest in the working of PMD in general and specifically tsunami early warning system. He appreciated the efforts being made in provision of information and early warnings for hydrometeorological and geophysical disasters as well as tsunami early warning. The Chairman, NDMA assured their continued support in further strengthening of the hydromet and seismic early warning systems of PMD.

Later on, the honorable guest planted a tree in the premises of PMD to the support the national spring plantation drive.

Director General, PMD thanked the Chairman NDMA for sparing valuable moments and acknowledging the role and services of PMD in weather forecasting and seismic monitoring.

As a results of mostly less rain and above normal day temperature prediction over Islamabad/Rawalpindi cities in coming few weeks, the pollen is likely to start early say in first week of March in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and expected to attain peak during second fortnight of March 2022. Pollen season is expected to end by mid-April. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has been monitoring the airborne pollen in Islamabad throughout the year. Pollen monitoring unit of PMD has installed pollen monitoring devices in different sectors of Islamabad (H-8, E-8, F-10 and G-6). The pollen concentration increases gradually with the onset of spring season and attains its peak around full blossom. The most abundant pollen types in Islamabad are from 08 plant species (i. e. Paper Mulberry, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Pines, Grasses, Cannabis, Dandelion and Alternaria). Out of all these plants Paper Mulberry shares about 97% of the total pollen and its concentration touches the extreme limits of about 40,000 per cubic meter of air at the peak of the blossom season. People suffering from Asthma and respiratory diseases experience serious consequences due to sharp increase in pollen concentrations. PMD will continuously publish pollen concentration data throughout the pollen season on its website and print/electronic media on daily basis. This concentration data will be regularly uploaded on PMD website: www.pmd.gov.pk .Public may contact at following phone numbers for related information; 051-9250334, 051-9250364 and 051-9250369 or email at pollen@pmd.gov.pk for queries regarding pollen count.