Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, issued a stark caution on Monday against reallocating loans intended for education, health, and human development to finance climate-related initiatives, stating that such diversions undermine progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Minister’s remarks came during a high-level meeting with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), led by Mr. Lifeng Li, the Director of its Land and Water Division. The discussion centered on exploring expanded cooperation in sustainable land management, water resources, and climate-resilient development.
Mr. Li underscored Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to the effects of climate change, stressing the critical importance of strengthening the nation’s food systems and resource management. He briefed the minister on the FAO’s ongoing work to combat land degradation, optimise the use of resources in the Indus Basin, and improve water governance.
The visiting delegation also presented its Country Programming Framework for 2023-2027 and demonstrated the Aqua Portal, an innovative platform designed to facilitate data and information sharing between different agencies.
While appreciating the FAO’s support, Dr. Malik highlighted the need to invest in areas with limited direct public returns, such as capacity building and institutional strengthening. He also shared details about the ministry’s plan to establish Green Clusters, an initiative aimed at connecting young Pakistani green-tech entrepreneurs with international investors.
Dr. Malik called for the creation of a structured and comprehensive collaborative mechanism that would encompass administrative coordination, skills development, and public-private partnerships. He emphasized the necessity for strong strategic alignment among federal, provincial, and international partners to ensure coherent and impactful climate action over the long term.