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KARACHI, Nov 28 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that the international community had not come forward with any meaningful contribution to overcome challenges of the climate change.
While addressing a two-day conference on ‘Climate Change and the Built Environment: promoting resilience and Adaptation in low income settings’, through a video link, organized by the Institute for Global Health and Development, AKU, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Pakistan (SDSN) at AKU auditorium, he said that the climate change was the most urgent challenge of the time. He said, ‘We have seen two major floodings, one in 2022 and second in 2025.
The Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said this conference had strengthened the mission of the government by highlighting issues of the climate change.
He said that the worst part of 2022 floods, was the submersion of Sindh and Balochistan.
Iqbal said that Climate Change destroyed the foundations. Putting shed on e-Pakistan, he said that they were focusing on climate data, climate planning, and adaptation to climate change.
Emphasizing on the need for dealing effectively to the climate change impacts, the Minister said that they were putting in efforts for building communities resilient. He further said that the climate was not a side agenda but it was now national policy of the country.
Prof. Iqbal said that they had prioritized climate change efforts, climate resilience housing program, resilience material of buildings etc.
He remarked that International community had not come forward with any meaningful contribution and from global south to global north it was time for them to make meaningful impact.
Iqbal said that under URAAN Pakistan and under Climate pillars, they were bringing blue corridor, tools to monitor flooding etc.
He said that technology was a bridge between vulnerability and survival. He also stressed on many solutions in traditional architecture and termed them as the climate smart designs. The Minister said that the future was hybrid and climate Change was resharing daily life.
He also asked AKU for sharing recommendations of the conference.
Director of Institute for Global Health and Development, AKU, Dr. Zulfikar Bhutta said that Pakistan was at the epicenter of Climate Change issues and ranked among the top 20 countries most impacted by the Climate Change.
He said, ‘We are really focused on climatic issues, and glacier melting impacting our population.’
He remarked that they were focusing on solutions to climate change problems.
AKU President Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin said that the Chancellor of AKU Prince Rahim Agha Khan was very passionate about climate change.
He said that making climate resilient was eventually meant that they were talking about protecting the people. He further said that patients affected due to climate change would also remain under focus of treatment.
He also read the message of Prince Rahim Agha Khan on climate change challenges.