ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to prepare for the upcoming COP2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November. During the meeting, he emphasized Pakistan’s urgent need for international support to address the escalating climate crisis.
Prof. Iqbal highlighted the country’s critical vulnerability to climate impacts, citing recent floods as evidence of Pakistan’s position as a key case study in climate resilience and adaptation. “Pakistan is not only one of the hardest-hit nations by the climate crisis but also one of the most resilient.
Despite the catastrophic floods of 2010 and 2022, our nation has demonstrated remarkable perseverance. However, the scale of these challenges exceeds our capabilities, necessitating immediate global assistance,” he stated.
He pointed out that while the devastating floods of 2010 resulted in a significant loss of life, improved strategic preparedness helped reduce fatalities during the 2022 floods. “Although these recent floods were three times more severe, our preparedness efforts minimized loss of life, illustrating that resilience planning is not only vital but lifesaving. Continued resources and expertise are essential to maintain this progress,” he added.
In response to the 2022 floods, Pakistan introduced the 4RF (Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework), which aims to strengthen infrastructure, support vulnerable communities, and enhance adaptive capacity in crucial sectors.
Looking forward to COP2024, Prof. Iqbal stressed the importance of mobilizing policy initiatives to foster regional collaboration. He instructed the organization of a roundtable to gather climate experts from academia, international specialists, and environmental organizations to explore collaborative solutions.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs; Dr. Abid Qayyum Sulehri from SDPI; Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change & Environmental Coordination; and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
