Role of partnerships underscored to achieve climate, uplift goals

Islamabad: Coordinator to the prime minister on climate change Romina Khurshid Alam on Friday emphasised the significance of partnerships among stakeholders to achieve Pakistan’s climate and sustainable development goals.

During a ceremony held here for the signing of a letter of understanding between the climate change ministry and the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Alam said such collaborations would significantly strengthen the government’s efforts to promote inclusive, climate-resilient socio-economic development in the country.

"This LoU marks a major step towards addressing climate vulnerabilities of mountain communities and fostering sustainable livelihoods for the mountain communities affected by the adverse impacts of climate change," she said. The LoU aims to enhance livelihood security and promote sustainable socio-economic development in Pakistan’s rural and coastal areas, including Sindh’s coastal regions, as well as the rural areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It was signed by the ministry’s Aisha Humera Moriani and AKF CEO Akhtar Iqbal. Ms Alam noted that Pakistan was facing significant climate-related challenges, particularly in its vulnerable coastal and mountainous regions.

"These areas are grappling with extreme weather events, glacial melting, sea-level rise, agricultural vulnerabilities, and water scarcity, all of which threaten the livelihoods of communities," she said. Stressing upon the urgent need for climate action, the aide to PM said that the ministry recognised the importance of targeted interventions to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change and support the socio-economic development of these regions through effective climate actions in different sectors, particularly energy, water, food, health and education.

"In response to these challenges, we have entered into this strategic partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation to enhance climate resilience and promote livelihood security in underserved rural areas," she said.

Ms Alam hoped the partnership would focus on implementing climate-smart solutions in agriculture, resource management, and infrastructure while fostering local involvement and sustainable practices.

"The Foundation and its sister organisations will play a pivotal role in enhancing community resilience through initiatives in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, and environmental education," she said. The PM's aide said the ministry and the Aga Khan Foundation would improve livelihoods, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable socio-economic development in these vulnerable regions.