RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given approval for a new Climate Observatory in the region. This is an important step for Punjab to address climate change.
As per the information provided by newspaper, a scientific center will also be set up to improve environmental data analysis and help make informed policies.
As per the report, the approval was made during a meeting led by Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, meeting discussed the project’s budget, equipment needs, and land requirements.
The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore shared a report on the project’s technical details.
The observatory will be located at the Punjab Planning and Development complex, with its main structure built at the EICT (Environment and Information Communication Technology) site.
The facility will have an automatic messaging system, a mapping lab, sector-specific connection systems, and a data center, it will use modern MRI-based tools for processing information and studying weather patterns.
A special internship program will train environmental experts from different fields. The observatory will also have a data archiving system, a coordination unit, and an international communication cell to work with global climate networks.
Officials said the observatory will follow a modern management system, and they are already looking to hire qualified international professionals.
Senior Minister Aurangzeb instructed the creation of a smart organizational structure for smooth operations.
Experts explained that the Climate Observatory will help predict climate risks, analyze data in real time, and support quick decision-making. It will also contribute to scientific research and improve information sharing with international partners.
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Marriyum Aurangzeb said, “Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has a detailed plan to address climate change. This observatory is a major step in Punjab’s efforts to protect the environment.” Climate observatories are facilities with modern tools to monitor changes in the atmosphere and environment.
Experts use real-time data to identify risks and provide early warnings, which are important for policy planning and preparing for disasters.
Separately, the Punjab government has approved four development projects worth over Rs32 billion for the 2024–25 fiscal year.
The decision was made during a meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on Saturday.
These projects include upgrading Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) across Punjab and improving the planning and development sector.
For health projects, Rs9.93 billion will be used to upgrade 581 BHUs in South Punjab, Rs9.99 billion will improve 220 RHCs in a revised phase-I plan, and Rs9.98 billion will upgrade 552 BHUs in North and Central Punjab.
Additionally, Rs2.09 billion will support the transformation of the Punjab Resource Management and Policy Unit (PRMPU) to improve planning, monitoring, and policy-making in the province.