The Ministry of Defense has raised concerns over private vloggers, YouTubers, and social media pages issuing unauthorized weather forecasts without possessing the required scientific training or certification.
According to an official memo, more than 80 private weather-related groups and individuals — including Weather Walay, Pakistan Doppler, and Weather Updates PK — have been releasing unverified forecasts and warnings on social and mainstream media platforms. The ministry said such activities often cause unnecessary panic among the public.
The Defense Ministry has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to direct their respective regulators to take immediate measures against the spread of misinformation. The goal, it said, is to protect public safety and ensure that only reliable, science-based information consistent with World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards is shared.
It emphasized that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) is the sole authorised body to issue official weather forecasts, warnings, and alerts in the country. Any private forecasts, the ministry said, violate both national and international meteorological guidelines.
The statement also noted that the equipment used by private individuals and groups is not registered or calibrated in accordance with WMO standards, and that those issuing such forecasts lack proper meteorological training. This, it added, undermines PMD’s credibility, confuses citizens, and can negatively affect disaster response efforts.
The ministry further urged the Information Ministry to ensure that all licensed broadcasters and media outlets rely exclusively on official PMD updates for weather-related information. It also recommended prohibiting the promotion or citation of unofficial forecasts by private individuals or groups.
Media organisations and digital platforms, the memo added, should credit the PMD as the official source whenever sharing weather or climate information derived from its data.