Pakistan acquires lightning detectors from china

Pakistan, Tharparkar in particular, recently witnessed a surge in lightning incidents. In order to improve the country's lightning strike warning capability and prevent loss of lives, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has acquired 25 lightning detectors from China.

The lightning detectors worth US$1 million were procured after many people and hundreds of cattle were killed in recent lightning incidents in Tharparkar.

The PMD and Institute of Electrical Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS) signed a cooperation agreement on September 22, 2023, a statement 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 the weather department.

Under the agreement, PMD received 25 lightning detection systems, Mahr Sahibzad Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said, talking to an English daily. He added that they will be installed across the country.

A radar with a range of 14,000 km has also been acquired from China that would cover the entire Pakistan and identify natural disasters due to climate change.

These meteorological detectors will help minimize the loss of life and property due to lightning.

“This satellite will be helpful for timely weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster mitigation,” Sahibzad said as quoted by the newspaper.