Pakistan Uses China’s AI Weather System to Strengthen Monsoon Monitoring
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is using China’s MAZU-Urban artificial intelligence (AI) weather system to enhance weather monitoring and support disaster preparedness during the ongoing monsoon season.
Developed by the China Meteorological Administration, MAZU-Urban is an AI-powered multi-hazard early warning system designed to help countries improve forecasting and reduce the impact of weather-related disasters.
AI-Powered Weather Monitoring
The MAZU-Urban platform provides real-time weather monitoring and AI-assisted emergency response planning for a range of natural hazards.
The system is designed to support forecasting for:
- Floods
- Heavy rainfall
- Typhoons
- Agricultural weather risks
- Other climate-related emergencies
As an open-source AI platform, MAZU-Urban can be customized by local authorities to meet country-specific forecasting and disaster management needs.
Pakistan Sees Potential for Better Forecasting
According to Frukh Bashir, Head of Research and Development at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the technology could help improve the country’s weather forecasting capabilities.
He said AI-based tools have the potential to enhance forecasting products and support better predictions of extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and other conditions that may affect public safety.
China Promotes AI Cooperation
Chinese officials presented MAZU-Urban as part of the country’s broader initiative to expand AI cooperation with developing nations.
Zhang Kailin, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development at China’s National Development and Reform Commission, said the country supports people-centered AI development through open-source technology, safety standards, and international collaboration.
He noted that China aims to encourage responsible AI innovation while helping developing countries strengthen their technological capabilities.
Growing Global Use of Chinese AI Models
Chinese officials stated that the country’s open-source AI models have seen widespread international adoption, with billions of downloads worldwide.
According to the officials, developers and research organizations continue to build new applications based on Chinese large language models, contributing to a growing global AI ecosystem.
Gan Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department at China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said China remains committed to supporting international cooperation by providing accessible AI models, intelligent technologies, and digital solutions.
Support for Developing Countries
The report also highlighted Zimbabwe as another country benefiting from Chinese technology cooperation.
A Chinese-supported supercomputing center in Zimbabwe has become an important resource for artificial intelligence research and development, reflecting broader efforts to expand AI infrastructure and technological collaboration in developing countries.
Pakistan’s adoption of AI-assisted weather monitoring represents another step toward using advanced technology to improve forecasting accuracy and strengthen disaster preparedness during increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
