Pakistan has launched a wide ranging climate adaptation strategy featuring multi billion dollar environmental projects, including a $3.5 billion regional program and several internationally funded initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience to climate change.
Responding to Question No. 134, Minister for Climate Change Senator Musadik Masood Malik told the House that the government is implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023, which serves as the central framework guiding Pakistan’s climate adaptation policy and integrating climate resilience into national and provincial development planning.
The minister informed lawmakers that several major climate initiatives are currently underway across the country under the plan. Among the largest is the Glaciers to Farms Regional Program with an estimated value of $3.5 billion, aimed at improving water management and strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
Another key initiative is the Resilient Water Infrastructure Facility, valued at $1.3 billion, which focuses on building climate resilient water infrastructure across the country.
The Assembly was also informed about the Community Resilience Partnership Program in Sindh, a $750 million project designed to enhance climate resilience at the community level, while the Recharge Pakistan program, valued at $72.8 million, seeks to restore floodplains and transform the Indus Basin river system to mitigate flood risks and improve ecosystem sustainability.
Other ongoing climate projects include the $90 million Acumen Climate Action Pakistan Fund, the $10 million Integrated Climate Risk Management project in Buner and Shangla, the $50 million initiative aimed at strengthening the domestic private sector ecosystem for climate action, the $15.2 million program to combat land degradation in northern Punjab, the $20.22 million Bananas in Pakistan’s Bioeconomy project in Sindh, and the $10 million SAFER Pakistan initiative.
The minister said climate adaptation measures are being integrated into the Public Sector Development Programme and provincial Annual Development Programs to ensure climate resilience becomes part of development planning at all levels of government.
Officials further informed the Assembly that development projects are now being screened using Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Climate and Hazard Initial Risk Assessment tools to evaluate climate risks before approval.
The National Adaptation Plan focuses on several priority areas including climate smart agriculture and water management, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, climate resilient urban development, disaster risk reduction, and strengthening human capital through resilient health and education systems.
Lawmakers were also informed that the government is developing a digital monitoring and evaluation dashboard to track the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan, which is expected to become operational by mid 2026.
