Govt seeks greater youth role in climate, water policy

August 18, 2026 (MLN): Greater youth participation in Pakistan’s climate and water policymaking is needed to bridge the gap between policy decisions and their implementation on the ground, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik said Tuesday.

Addressing a National Youth-Led Policy Roundtable on Water Resilience and Climate Action in Pakistan, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination in collaboration with WaterAid Pakistan, the minister called for youth involvement in policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and accountability.

He highlighted green skills, Climate University and startups as initiatives aimed at turning youth participation in the country’s climate agenda into practical opportunities, according to APP.

Dr Malik stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the government, youth, academia, research institutions and the private sector to promote evidence-based policymaking and innovation.

He said young people’s presence in communities across Pakistan enables them to monitor implementation, identify gaps and provide policymakers with evidence from the ground.

The minister also called for women’s empowerment and the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups in climate and water policies and projects.

Referring to the 18th Constitutional Amendment, he said key areas of water management and service delivery fall under provincial jurisdiction, requiring stronger provincial institutional, technical and human capacity alongside federal leadership and coordination.

He said climate and water challenges vary across regions, making it necessary for policies to address local needs and vulnerabilities. Indigenous and community knowledge should also be incorporated alongside scientific and technical expertise, he added.

Dr Malik said the focus should now shift from policy commitments towards achieving visible and measurable results on the ground.

Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Awais Manzur Sumra and senior ministry officials also attended the roundtable.

Young participants from across Pakistan shared experiences and recommendations on water scarcity, floods, droughts, sanitation, public health and climate resilience, calling for greater youth involvement in decision-making, community action and accountability.

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