Can a Chinese AI weather system help Pakistan manage the impacts of a changing climate?
MAZU offers faster forecasts and supports early warning systems. But its effectiveness depends on quality of data and disaster response capacity, experts say The post Can a Chinese AI weather system help Pakistan manage the impacts of a changing climate? appeared first on Dialogue Earth .
Muhammad Irfan Virk, director of Pakistan’s National Weather Forecasting Centre, was impressed by the China Meteorological Administration’s forecasting office during his 2024 visit. The office, known as MAZU, is a cutting-edge AI system designed to provide multi-hazard alerts with zero gaps. While the system cannot prevent extreme weather, it can help meteorologists make better decisions by delivering earlier warnings.
Pakistan began using a customized version of MAZU in October 2025, alongside other early warning tools. The collaboration between China and Pakistan, under the South-South cooperation on climate change, aims to help Pakistan manage the impacts of climate change. MAZU has been used to assess weather conditions for rescue efforts following the floods in Nepal in August 2022.
Chinese authorities reportedly provide Nepal with daily updates on barrier lake development and emergency hydrological monitoring using the system. Despite the AI weather modelling community’s positive reception of MAZU, experts believe it is not a magic bullet for early warning systems. It is too early to determine its accuracy in Pakistan’s local climate and geographical context.
MAZU can be tailored to a country’s specific needs by integrating local meteorological data and disaster risks. MAZU has also been deployed in several other countries, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Jordan, Sri Lanka, and the Solomon Islands. China is supporting over 40 countries with virtual trials of the system. The platform’s value lies in its ability to integrate conventional meteorology, satellite and radar data, ground-station observations, and local calibration with AI insights.
However, an effective early warning system requires a holistic approach encompassing disaster risk management, detection and forecasting, dissemination and communication, and preparedness and response. Collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society is essential for the success of hydrometeorology sectors. Weather data should be freely and unrestrictedly exchanged through public-private partnerships, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Written by urgent.news from Dialogue Earth's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
