ISLAMABAD — Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Humera Moriani officially unveiled Pakistan’s first National Drought Action Plan (NDAP) on March 28, 2026. The landmark initiative marks a decisive shift from reactive post-impact relief to a proactive, risk-based management system designed to combat the country’s worsening water crisis.

Addressing a national consultative workshop, Secretary Moriani warned that drought is no longer a "distant risk" but a persistent threat to food security and national ecosystems. With Pakistan ranked among the world’s most water-stressed nations, the new framework aims to protect the livelihoods of millions dependent on the agricultural sector.

The Five Pillars of Drought Resilience

The NDAP is built upon a coordinated institutional policy framework developed with support from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The plan focuses on five strategic areas to ensure the country is prepared before disaster strikes:

• Policy and Governance: Establishing clear institutional roles and a National Drought Management Committee.

• Early Warning Systems: Leveraging the Pakistan Drought Management System (PakDMS) for real-time monitoring.

• Resource Mobilization: Planning and securing sustainable funding for drought mitigation.

• Local Mitigation: Implementing on-ground actions to preserve water at the community level.

• Capacity Building: Training federal and provincial agencies to translate climate data into immediate action.

A Unified "Whole-of-Society" Approach

The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), IWMI, and international partners like the FAO and the UK’s FCDO. Secretary Moriani emphasized that drought is a cross-sectoral challenge that requires a "whole-of-government" response to be effective.

Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, the ministry’s media spokesperson, noted that the NDAP will bridge critical gaps in current water management. By providing a unified roadmap, the plan ensures that strategic actions are taken before, during, and after drought events, moving away from the fragmented, sector-specific responses of the past.