A two-day feedback workshop on Impact-Based Forecasting under the Green Climate Fund project Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management kicked off on 24 November in Multan. The event convened more than 60 participants, bringing together meteorologists, irrigation and agriculture specialists, farmers and policymakers to refine how weather forecasts are translated into actionable guidance for farming communities.
Participants focused on making forecasts more locally relevant and easier for frontline users to apply in irrigation planning, crop protection and early advisories. The workshop emphasised practical feedback from farmers and provincial water managers to ensure the Impact-Based Forecasting approach addresses seasonal needs across Punjab and Sindh, particularly where the Indus Basin’s water and agricultural systems are most vulnerable to climate variability.
Chief guests at the opening session included Mr. Muhammad Aslam Javed, Member Agriculture Planning and Development Board Punjab, and the Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Their participation reinforced the provincial and national collaboration needed to scale up impact-focused forecasting services and link them with agricultural extension and irrigation departments.
Organisers described the two-day event as a hub of collaboration where technical meteorological knowledge met on-the-ground experience from farmers and local officials. Feedback gathered during the sessions will inform next steps in training, communication products and coordination mechanisms so that Impact-Based Forecasting delivers timely, practical support to producers across the Indus Basin.
This initiative is a concrete example of building climate resilience for Pakistani agriculture. The project team expressed gratitude to the Green Climate Fund and the Governments of Punjab and Sindh for their support as the programme moves from pilot testing to wider operational use of Impact-Based Forecasting in the region.
