Pakistan enters another monsoon season with little margin for complacency. Last year’s rains claimed more than a thousand lives, displaced millions, and left behind widespread devastation as floods, flash floods, and landslides tore through the country. Homes were destroyed, roads and bridges washed away, crops ruined, and entire communities cut off. Gilgit‑Baltistan endured glacial lake outburst floods, while Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan suffered heavy losses from relentless downpours. Beyond the destruction of infrastructure, livelihoods were disrupted and already stretched public resources came under immense pressure. Yet, despite the recurring nature of these disasters, Pakistan continues to rely excessively on emergency relief rather than sustained preparedness.

This year, the risks are already mounting. Rapid glacier melt has triggered flooding in parts of Gilgit‑Baltistan, while the Met Office has forecast above‑normal rainfall during the monsoon. Warnings have been issued about landslides in northern regions and urban flooding in major cities. Strong winds are also expected, with the potential to damage electricity infrastructure, rooftop solar systems, trees, and billboards. Against this backdrop, the prime minister’s review of monsoon preparedness is a welcome step. The establishment of an Emergency Response Committee, weekly coordination meetings with provinces, creation of an emergency relief fund, dispatch of federal teams to all provinces, Azad Kashmir and GB, implementation of a flood mitigation roadmap, clearance of encroachments from flood pathways, and mobilisation of administrative and technical resources reflect an understanding that disaster management cannot begin once floodwaters arrive.

The additional allocation for major water infrastructure acknowledges the importance of long‑term investment. However, decisions must be translated into action. Storm‑water drains should be cleared before heavy rains begin, embankments and bridges inspected, rescue equipment and emergency shelters positioned in high‑risk districts, and early warning and evacuation systems put in place. Utility companies must inspect vulnerable transmission lines, local authorities should secure unstable billboards and hazardous trees, and owners of rooftop solar systems must ensure mounting frames can withstand high winds. Local governments must be actively involved, and illegal construction on floodplains should be removed permanently.

Pakistan cannot prevent every flood or landslide, but it can substantially reduce the loss of life and property if preparedness becomes a year‑round priority rather than a seasonal exercise. The lessons of past disasters are clear: reactive measures are insufficient. What is required is a culture of resilience, where planning, coordination, and investment in disaster mitigation are continuous. Only then can Pakistan hope to protect its citizens and infrastructure from the destructive force of the monsoon.