Islamabad : – Chief Executive Officer Bilal Anwar, CEO of National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration and innovation in enhancing climate resilience and adaptation strategies.
Bilal Anwar said, “A coordinated and holistic approach towards climate change, resilience and Adaptation is the only viable way to understand and assess how adversely and profoundly climate change affects people, communities and economy. It is also essential to understand that it is an issue that affects everyone but disproportionately affect certain groups more than others. Hence, a nexus approach will allow to address these interconnected issues and challenges in an effective and holistic manner. This event provides a perfect opportunity to build coordination and partnerships for a better future for people of Pakistan.”
Aamir Muhammad, Country Director Action Against Hunger Pakistan Mission remarked, “This event will provide a critical opportunity to assess the impact of climate change on our communities and highlight the urgent need for adaptive strategies. Addressing the gaps in our current approaches and developing effective solutions is essential. Our goal is to empower communities with the necessary tools and knowledge to adapt and thrive amidst climate challenges.”
Action Against Hunger launched several crucial research studies aimed at addressing climate resilience and improving humanitarian response in Pakistan.
The research studies that were launched included:
Research Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Climate Resilience Initiatives in Sindh and Balochistan.
Research Study on the Impact of the Agriculture Sector on Climate Change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
Piloting of Management of Small and Nutritionally At-Risk Infants Under 6 Months and Their Mothers in Healthcare Settings of Balochistan.
Rapid Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (RAPID SMART) Sindh Survey.
The event brought together a diverse group of experts, policymakers, humanitarians and community leaders to discuss how Pakistan can better adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. The key feature of the event was a panel discussion on “Cross-Sector Collaboration for Climate Resilience and Effective Humanitarian Response,” The distinguished panelists included Mr. Idrees Mahsud, Member – Disaster Risk Reduction, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Mr. Asif Sherazi, Country Director – Islamic Relief Pakistan, Ms. Farrah Naz, Country Director – Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Ms. Humera Qasim Khan – Climate Change and Environmental Specialist and Ms. Nabeela Umar – Secretary Environment Climate change & Coastal Development Department, Government of Sindh and the panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Sabeen Farooq.
Additionally, the event included insightful presentation by experts on the Impacts of Climate Change on the Effectiveness of Integrated Humanitarian Assistance in Vulnerable Districts of Sindh and Balochistan. These presentations highlighted the challenges faced in delivering humanitarian aid effectively amid changing climate conditions and discussed the gaps and strategies for improvement. Participants engaged with experts, explored case studies, and contributed to a comprehensive roadmap for future action. In addition, the experts also highlighted the challenges faced by agriculture sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of climate change. The province has witnessed various disasters in the recent past and even in 2024 ongoing monsoon have damaged agriculture. The experts reflected on long term solutions for adaptive agriculture strategies in KPK. During the event, findings regarding malnutrition in Sindh especially for infants and mothers were highlighted and a few innovative practices to improve the maternal and newborn nutrition were shared with the participants.
The insights gained from the event will play a pivotal role in shaping policies and programs aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s resilience to climate change. Through addressing gaps and leveraging innovative solutions, this collaborative effort seeks to build a more adaptive and resilient future for the country.
