Sindh’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Energy, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, has announced that the Badin District Adaptation Plan (DAP) will transform Badin from a climate change-vulnerable area into a prosperous and resilient district. Developed through the collaboration of all stakeholders, the plan will focus on income protection, strengthening food security, and building robust infrastructure. The Sindh government, in partnership with organizations like ADPC and the World Bank, intends to establish similar adaptation plans for every district.
Shah chaired a high-level review meeting of the Badin DAP at the P and D Secretariat Karachi. Officials discussed finalizing the program, developed by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) under the “CARE for South Asia” initiative, supported by the World Bank.
The minister lauded ADPC’s efforts and pledged financial support, including allocating an annual budget for project implementation. He assured that the Sindh government would secure additional funding from donors to ensure the project’s success. The project aims to enhance Badin’s agricultural potential, employment opportunities, community well-being, social safety nets, and ecological progress.
A dedicated unit, overseen by the Commissioner of Hyderabad, will monitor and track the project’s progress, supporting community-wide strategies for a more resilient Badin.
The P and D Department formed a working committee to review the project. Participants, including secretaries from various departments (Irrigation, Environment, Climate Change and Coastal, Agriculture, Local Government, Forests and Wildlife, Livestock and Fisheries, Health, Social Protection, Public Health Engineering, and Women Development), PDMA’s Director General, Member (Dev) P and D, Commissioner Hyderabad, and Deputy Commissioner Badin, provided input. Badin’s elected officials were also included to incorporate local perspectives.
Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed (Retd), Regional Advisor for the CARE initiative, presented the final strategy to Minister Shah. Secretary Irrigation, Zarif Iqbal Khehro, emphasized the importance of current information and previously included flood maps in the report. The minister approved the plan and directed it be formally presented to the Sindh Chief Minister.
Shah thanked everyone involved in the process, especially ADPC. ADPC acknowledged Minister Shah, Chairman P and D Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary P and D Sajjad Abbasi, Secretary Environment Zubair Channa, Secretary Irrigation Zarif Iqbal Khehro, DG PDMA Salman Shah, Commissioner Hyderabad Bilal Memon, and Deputy Commissioner Badin Yasir Bhatti and their teams for their support.
Key individuals involved in the plan’s formation, which began in July 2024 with ADPC technical experts under the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC and EC), include Assistant Deputy Commissioner Badin Kashif Mangi, Member (Dev) P and D Muhammad Saleem Jalbani, and National Coordinator Sana Zulfiqar.
Zulfiqar highlighted the program’s unique collaborative approach, involving lawmakers and political figures, ensuring national ownership and commitment to climate resilience. This marks a significant step towards a climate-resilient Pakistan.