Pakistan gets 25 detectors as lightning strikes in Sindh, Balochistan rise

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of increasing incidents of lightning strikes in Pakistan, especially in the Tharparkar district, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has acquired 25 lightning detection sensors worth US$1 million from China which would be installed throughout the country. 

It will improve the lightning strike warning capability and prevent loss of human lives and livestock, officials said on Wednesday.

“For the last few years, the frequency of lightning strikes has increased, especially in Tharparkar region, which has resulted in loss of precious lives and livestock. Now we have acquired these detectors to help improve our lightning warning capability and save precious lives and property,” Mahr Sahibzad Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), told The News.

Dozens of people have been killed in the Tharparkar district during the last few years, especially in 2019 when several dozen people and hundreds of cattle were killed in one such lightning strike incident. Several such incidents have so far been reported this year also, resulting in several human deaths and killings of cattle in Tharparkar.

The cost of all lightning systems is around $ US one million but it is being provided free of cost, Director General PMD said adding that Chinese engineers were also helping PMD in their installation and upgradation. Sahibzad Khan said they were also acquiring a long-range lightning detector from China in the coming weeks, to predict such incidents up to 1,400 kilometres. They would cover the entire Pakistan and help generate timely warnings.

Accompanied by other senior PMD officials including Dr Zahid, Farooq Dar, Muhammad Amjad and others, Mahr Sahibzad Khan said lightning is a natural weather phenomenon that poses significant threats to life and property but this equipment would help minimize the risks by early warnings.

In July, a 3-D lightning detection system was provided by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the DG PMD said. “The system was successfully tested at the PMD head office and data transmission was established with the cloud server. It shows real-time lightning data including the location of lightning, its intensity, and spatial distribution,” he added. It was found to be highly effective and it was decided to acquire and install it throughout the country.

To this effect, the PMD and Institute of Electrical Engineering of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS) signed a cooperation agreement on September 22nd, 2023, the PMD MD said, adding that the agreement was aimed to establish a Very Low-Frequency VLF/LF lightning detection network to improve the lightning warning capability of PMD. Under the agreement, PMD has received 25 lightning detection systems, Mahr Sahibzad said adding they will be installed across the country.

The “Chinese Meteorological Agency is also involved in the capacity building of PMD. Feng Yun 2H is a Chinese meteorological satellite operated by the National Satellite Meteorological Centre. The satellite equipment is being provided to the PMD to monitor real-time atmospheric conditions like clouds, precipitation, and other meteorological parameters”, he said. “This satellite will be helpful for timely weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster mitigation.

He added cooperation with China was increasing in environmental protection, climate change and disaster management.