The UK Met Office (UKMO), the United Kingdom’s national meteorological service, and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) – in collaboration with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan – are organizing a three-day workshop on impact-based forecasting. The consultation workshop is a key activity of the Asia Regional Resilience to a Changing Climate (ARRCC) programme, which is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and builds on initial engagement with the PMD in 2018.

The workshop aims to inform and shape the work of the ARRCC programme in Pakistan to support the strengthening of climate services in the country. This workshop will bring together researchers, providers, and users of climate information to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with the use and uptake of climate services in Pakistan. Participation in the consultative workshop is by invitation only.

About ARRCC

The ARRCC programme, which commenced in September 2018, is a four-year programme aiming to strengthen the provision and uptake of weather and climate services across South Asia. While regional in nature, ARRCC will also have a focus on the most vulnerable countries in the region, primarily Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

The programme will focus across all meteorological timescales (weather, season, and climate), aiming to build climate and environmental resilience by improving the application and access to weather and climate services at regional to national levels. In addition, the programme will support the development of new technologies and innovative approaches to using weather warnings and forecasts. This will help vulnerable communities better prepare for climate-related shocks.

Workshop objectives

1. Improve understanding of the current use of weather, season, and climate services by key stakeholders
2. Inform activities in the ARRCC programme to improve the utility and use of impact-based forecasting to stakeholders
3. Share information on current services provided by the PMD
4. Gain an understanding of the key hazards that impact the key sectors on weather, season, and climate timeframes
5. Identify and agree on priorities on impact based forecasting and next steps.