Pakistan urgently needs a paradigm shift in how it manages climate-driven disasters. Instead of relying on traditional, reactive approaches, the country must adopt a proactive, AI-enabled disaster management system that strengthens its resilience against climate change. The devastating impacts of recent super floods and extreme heatwaves underscore the necessity of this transition. While human expertise remains important, upgrading the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial bodies with modern AI tools is now essential to safeguard Pakistan’s future. This transformation must be supported by forward-looking policies, technological advancement, and strong ethical governance to ensure responsible and effective implementation.
Measuring the Necessary Change
The limitations of conventional disaster management approaches are evident in the scale and severity of Pakistan’s recent climate disasters. Over the past five years, recurring heatwaves and destructive floods have caused unprecedented damage. The 2022 super floods alone affected over 33 million people, resulted in more than 1,739 deaths, and inflicted an estimated economic loss exceeding USD 30 billion, according to NDMA and World Bank assessments. Added to this is the devastation of the catastrophic 2025 flood. These numbers clearly demonstrate that the current system is not equipped to manage climate emergencies of this magnitude. They point to an urgent need for advanced AI-based forecasting, modeling, and rapid-response mechanisms that can convert data into life-saving action long before disaster strikes.
Artificial Intelligence: The Backbone of Proactive Management
A well-designed AI ecosystem can support every stage of the disaster management lifecycle. During the predictive phase, AI can generate hyper-local forecasts for floods, droughts, and heatwaves by analysing high-resolution satellite images and atmospheric data, offering earlier and more accurate warnings than current systems allow. In the real-time response phase, AI-powered machine vision can process drone footage to map infrastructure damage instantly, identify blocked routes, and streamline relief distribution to the most critical areas. In the recovery and resilience phases, machine learning models can assess evolving climate vulnerabilities and guide the development of climate-resilient infrastructure, agriculture, and land-use planning. This integrated approach can help Pakistan shift from reacting to disasters toward anticipating them and minimizing their impact.
Preparation and Readiness Barriers
Despite its potential, the adoption of AI faces significant challenges related to data quality, infrastructure, and institutional capacity. Pakistan suffers from chronic data poverty, including the absence of standardized, long-term climate data essential for accurate AI modeling. Additionally, many government agencies still operate on outdated ICT systems that cannot support the computational demands of modern AI platforms. Addressing these gaps requires urgent investment in advanced cloud computing systems, data-collection mechanisms, and comprehensive training programs that equip NDMA and provincial authorities with the skills needed to implement and interpret AI tools effectively.
Governance, Ethics, and Financing
Successful AI integration depends on strong governance and ethical safeguards. Pakistan needs a national framework that standardizes data collection, facilitates inter-provincial data sharing, and establishes clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI in disaster situations. Policies must clearly define data ownership, privacy protections, and accountability mechanisms to minimize algorithmic bias and ensure that vulnerable communities are not overlooked in relief efforts. Since AI-driven systems require sustained investment, Pakistan must also pursue innovative financing solutions, including increased federal funding, strengthened public-private partnerships, and aggressive engagement with international climate finance sources. These steps are crucial for building long-term, sustainable AI capabilities in disaster management.
Conclusion
Integrating AI into Pakistan’s disaster management policies is not an option. It is an urgent national priority. The loss of thousands of lives in recent years is more than a collection of tragic statistics; it is a call to action. Pakistan’s path forward requires a national commitment to developing a robust AI ecosystem, expanding data and technological infrastructure, and ensuring transparent and ethical governance. When AI becomes a core element of national security and climate resilience strategy, Pakistan will be able not only to manage climate disasters but also to prevent their worst outcomes and protect its people and economy for generations to come.
Farwa Bugvi is a distinguished Ph.D. scholar whose research lies at the intersection of Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Consumer Behaviour, and Marketing. She is a Gold Medalist with an M.S. in Marketing and brings eight years of combined professional experience. As a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Gujrat, she is committed to sharing her knowledge with students and contributing to the academic community.
Please note that all opinions, views, statements, and facts conveyed in the article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of Chaudhry Abdul Rehman Business School (CARBS). CARBS assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content. When interpreting and applying the information provided in the article, readers are advised to use their own discretion and judgement.
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