Climate ministry allocated Rs2.48bn for afforestation, urban resilience projects

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP): The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) has been allocated Rs2.478 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2026-27 to support afforestation, urban resilience and climate adaptation initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to cope with growing environmental challenges.

Official documents show that four key projects will receive funding from July 1, with the largest allocation of Rs2.335bn earmarked for the flagship Up-scaling of Green Pakistan Programme, which focuses on increasing forest cover, conserving biodiversity, enhancing carbon sequestration and restoring degraded ecosystems.

The allocations come amid growing concerns over the impacts of climate change, including glacial melting, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), water scarcity, deforestation, heatwaves, forest fires and land degradation.

Climate ministry spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh said the PSDP allocations reflected the government’s commitment to integrating climate resilience into national development planning.

“Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, climate resilience has become a central pillar of Pakistan’s development strategy,” he said, adding that the investments were intended to protect communities, restore ecosystems and improve preparedness against climate-related threats.

Shaikh said the budget underscored the government’s growing focus on nature-based solutions at a time when Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.

According to ministry documents, three new components will be incorporated into the Green Pakistan Programme, including the establishment of a Wildlife Rescue Centre and Urban Forestry Unit in the Margalla Hills National Park, the creation of a National Botanical Garden at Bani Gala and the development of a Pollution Load Assessment Network to monitor air and water pollution in Islamabad.

The ministry has also been allocated Rs51.6 million for the Green Skills for Sustainable Development initiative, which aims to equip young people with skills required for a low-carbon economy and promote green entrepreneurship.

“Green jobs and green entrepreneurship represent the future. By empowering young people with climate-relevant skills, Pakistan can simultaneously tackle unemployment and build a resilient, sustainable economy,” Shaikh said.

A further Rs50m has been allocated for the preparation of a National Urban Strategy and guidelines aimed at reducing the impacts of urban flooding, droughts and other climate-related disasters. The initiative is being implemented with support from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Fund and UN-Habitat.

Shaikh said Pakistan’s rapidly growing cities required climate-smart planning to cope with increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

“Recent years have shown that climate risks are intensifying. Through improved urban planning and disaster-sensitive spatial development, we aim to make cities safer, more resilient and better prepared for future shocks,” he said.

The PSDP also earmarks Rs40.66m for strengthening the ministry’s technical capacities in areas including climate finance, marine biodiversity, water, sanitation and hazardous waste management.

Shaikh said enhanced institutional capacity would help Pakistan access international climate finance and meet its environmental commitments more effectively.

“Climate governance today demands robust institutions, sound science and evidence-based policy making. Strengthening these capacities is essential for delivering meaningful climate action and safeguarding the country’s development gains,” he added.

The spokesperson said two ongoing projects — water quality monitoring and the Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House — would conclude on June 30 after achieving key milestones in strengthening environmental governance and public health systems.

According to the ministry, the PSDP portfolio for 2026-27 is expected to contribute to Pakistan’s climate adaptation objectives while enhancing resilience against floods, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related risks.