Pakistan focuses on climate challenges: Ahsan Iqbal

February 06, 2025 (MLN):Pakistan has intensified efforts to tackle climate change threats, focusing on air pollution, water scarcity, deforestation, and land degradation, according to the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal.

Speaking at a symposium, he highlighted the country’s role as a regional leader in climate adaptation and water conservation while emphasizing proactive steps to address these challenges.

The minister was chairing the session “The Pakistan Symposium on Governance and Climate Change” at the international conference “Breathe Pakistan.”

The event was held in collaboration with Dawn Media, the Ministry of Climate Change, the Government of Punjab, and the United Nations, according to the press release.

Sharing the current state of climate and environment in Pakistan, he said major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad frequently rank among the world’s most polluted urban centers.

Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI), he noted, has exceeded 400 during peak smog seasons far beyond the WHO’s safe limit of 50 due to vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, and low-quality fuels.

“With 135,000 deaths annually linked to air pollution, this is a silent crisis that demands urgent policy action,” he warned.

Commenting on water scarcity and pollution, he said Pakistan’s water availability has declined from 5,600 cubic meters per capita in the 1950s to less than 1,000 cubic meters today, placing the country on the brink of absolute water scarcity by 2025.

“Around 80% of Pakistan’s water sources are unsafe for consumption, contributing to 100,000 child deaths annually from waterborne diseases.

This has direct implications for food security, health, and economic stability,” he added.

With forest cover at only 5.4% far below the recommended 25% Pakistan is losing 27,000 hectares of forest annually due to illegal logging and urban expansion.

“This accelerates soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions, undermining our ability to combat climate change,” he stated.

On climate change vulnerability, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan has faced heightened climate-induced emergencies, with floods, heatwaves, and droughts affecting over 40 million people in recent years.

Pakistan ranks 8th on the Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch.

Our melting glaciers, which supply 60% of our water, are disappearing at an alarming rate, he cautioned.

Recalling the devastation caused by the 2022 floods, he said one-third of the country was submerged, millions were displaced, and damages amounted to $30bn.

“Agriculture, which contributes 19% to GDP and employs 38% of the workforce, faces severe threats from unpredictable weather, soil degradation, and reduced water availability,” he added.

Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the top ten most climate-vulnerable countries.

Iqbal highlighted Pakistan’s active engagement in global climate efforts, particularly through the Paris Agreement and COP meetings, including COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

As a responsible global partner, he said Pakistan has strengthened national climate adaptation plans, advocated for a fair Loss & Damage Fund to support vulnerable nations, and developed ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.

He further said the Ministry of Planning is integrating climate resilience into Pakistan’s national development agenda through the 5Es Framework.

The third ‘E’,“Environment and Climate Change; Water & Food Security” focuses on enhancing climate resilience, self-reliant adaptation measures, and sustainable practices to combat natural disasters such as droughts, cyclones, glacial lake outburst floods, and smog.

“Our leadership is committed to ensuring that Pakistan is not just a victim of climate change, but a proactive architect of climate solutions,” he remarked.

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