Abu Dhabi:  The UAE's National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) have signed a Technical Cooperation Program (TCP), to better enhance the scientific and technical cooperation capabilities in the fields of Seismology and Meteorological, as well as integrate solutions to better monitor seismic activity in the region.

Through the TCP, the NCM and PMD will cooperate in several fields, including Marine Meteorological Services, Hydrology and Flood Forecasting, Seismology, and scientific research to better monitor and understand seismic activities that have the potential to generate Tsunamis in the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman. The program will also see the exchange of seismic information around the clock to contribute to increasing the capabilities of seismic networks and monitoring.

The TCP was signed by HE. Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Mandoos, the Director of the National Center of Meteorology, and Mr. Mahr Sahibzad Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Division Department and Permanent Representative of Pakistan with WMO, at the World Meteorological Organization Regional Conference (RECO) in the Regional Association II taking place in Abu Dhabi between 13-16 March 2023.

Commenting on the signing, HE. Al Mandoos, said: “As part of our responsibility to monitor and assess seismic activity within the UAE, the Technical Cooperation Program will allow the NCM and PMD to better understand the possible dangers of seismic activity and tsunamis. Only through cutting-edge research work and promoting collaborative efforts and knowledge transfers within the scientific community can we begin to develop systems and solutions to ensure we have measures in place to minimize the risk and damage future seismic activity may cause.”

Mr. Mahr Sahibzad Khan said: “We are delighted to be working with The UAE's National Center of Meteorology and its team on this project. By expanding our relationship with the UAE's National Center of Meteorology, we are highlighting the importance of monitoring meteorological and seismic activity, as well as integrating and analyzing new data that could lead to future discoveries in these groundbreaking academic fields.”

By strengthening the relationship between the two, the TCP aims to integrate weather and seismic activity data and the development of special capacities for Tsunami models research, allowing faster and more reliable forecasts of Tsunamis propagating through the Oman Sea that may affect the coastal areas of Pakistan and Northeast of the UAE.

The TCP will also enhance technical cooperation and exchange expertise, by providing support to the Tsunami Early Warning Centre (TEWC) with advanced forecast modeling software, specifically designed to support the Tsunami forecasting operations, which will benefit the two countries and the Arab region.