Call to make climate-friendly urban uplift policies

LAHORE:The Planning and Development Board, in collaboration with UNDP through the Punjab SDGs Support Unit, convened a high-level workshop titled “Climate-Resilient Urban Development in Punjab: Perspectives on Policy, Planning, Financing, Design, and Implementation” in line with the Punjab govt’s vision for climate-resilient and sustainable development.

The session featured Urban Resilience Specialist Nadeem Khurshid and Financing for Development Specialist Awais Asim as resource persons. The workshop was chaired by Chief Economist, P&D Board Masoud Anwar, and facilitated by Project Manager Punjab SDGs Unit Dr M Aman Ullah.

Speaking on the occasion, Masoud Anwar stated, “Climate is the government’s topmost priority,” he stressed. “Today’s session aims to identify gaps and challenges in making urban development policies climate-smart and resilient, and to explore mechanisms for embedding climate resilience within the development projects. It also seeks to promote financing strategies such as global funds, green bonds and carbon credits to advance a climate-resilient Punjab.” “Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and we must ensure environmental concerns are central to the design of development projects. Each department should actively pursue relevant financing avenues, and the ultimate aim is to build institutional capacity for climate-resilient planning and implementation.” He emphasised that urban development planning in Punjab continues to face significant challenges in integrating climate resilience across project conception, design, financial planning, and implementation stages. During the session, Nadeem Khurshid, Urban Resilience Specialist, emphasised that several cities around the world offer best-practice models for climate-resilient urban development. These global strategies, he noted, provide valuable lessons that can be adapted to Punjab’s context, paving the way for long-term sustainability and strengthening the province’s climate and urban resilience.

GCU moot focuses on climate action through scientific collaboration: Government College University (GCU) hosted a one-day conference titled “CO Talks” here on Tuesday, bringing together leading experts from academia, industry, government, and international organisations. The conference focused on driving transformative climate action through scientific collaboration, data-driven policymaking, and multi-sector accountability.

In her keynote address, Ms Yulia Bazhenova, Country Head of GIZ Pakistan, emphasised the importance of coordinated environmental action. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Omer Ch highlighted the serious health impacts of environmental degradation, citing nearly 22,000 premature deaths and over 163,000 disability-adjusted life years lost annually in Pakistan due to environmental issues like smog. “These numbers are not mere statistics - they represent lives disrupted, communities harmed, and a future at risk.

True change begins with individuals. Each of us has a role to play, whether at home, in classrooms, or within our daily routines,” Prof Ch said. Dr Ayyaz ud Din, Chairman of PRGMEA (North), emphasised the critical need for decarbonization in Pakistan’s industrial sector, particularly in the textile industry. Prof Dr Faiza Sharif, Director of GCU SDSC, emphasised that decarbonizing industrial supply chains is a significant challenge due to knowledge gaps, inconsistent compliance standards, limited data, and resource constraints.

Dr Zulfiqar Younis, Additional Secretary for Climate Finance at the Ministry of Climate Change, delivered a comprehensive overview of Pakistan’s developing carbon market, while Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF Pakistan, discussed water conservation and the interconnections between biodiversity and climate change, urging enhanced action to safeguard both

natural resources and ecosystems.