Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman says specific awareness campaigns and outreach programmes are need of the hour to sensitize communities to take measures to reduce the impact of climate change.

Addressing media in Islamabad today [Monday], she said concrete steps should be taken on emergency basis to tackle climate change.

The Minister stressed that it is our collective responsibility to save water for future generations and for this purpose a comprehensive campaign will be launched to educate people for using water at the minimum level.

She said Pakistan is rapidly moving from water-stressed to water-scarce country, therefore, all out measures will be taken to avert such looming threats.

She said as part of the awareness campaign, initially, text messages will be sent to general public regarding heatwave. She said the focus of our efforts should be on reducing the number of deaths. However, there is a need to look at heat-related illnesses so that the vulnerability of the most marginalised sections can be brought down.

The Minister also appreciated the role of National Disaster Management Authority and Pakistan Met Department for ensuring precautionary measures and to maintain requisite facilities such as heat stroke centres.