Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 5 March 2026) Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Shaizra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal informed the National Assembly that Pakistan It is implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023 to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change by integrating adaptation measures into national development planning and addressing increasing climate risks in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.
In response to a question in the House of Representatives, the minister explained that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination does not deal with a national action plan. Instead, it operates within the framework of the 2023 National Adaptation Plan, which provides a strategic framework to address climate challenges and enhance the country’s ability to adapt to climate impacts.
She said the plan focuses on key priority areas including the relationship between agriculture and water through climate-smart agriculture, efficient irrigation systems and sustainable water management. It also emphasizes restoring ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, improving water quality and managing air pollution as part of protecting natural capital.
The minister said urban resilience is another important area under the plan, with a focus on climate resilient urban planning, improved services and nature-based solutions. The plan also aims to strengthen human capital by developing resilient health services education Systems and preparation of a climate-ready workforce.
She also said that disaster risk management is a critical component of the strategy, including early warning systems, risk reduction and resilient recovery mechanisms. Special attention is also given to gender equality, youth and social inclusion to ensure that vulnerable groups are empowered and included in climate adaptation initiatives.
Dr Chizra said the Ministry is working to ensure climate adaptation is integrated into the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and District Annual Development Programs (ADPs). A vulnerability assessment tool is also being developed in collaboration with county governments to ensure that all flood-affected populations are adequately covered in planning and response mechanisms.
She informed the House of Representatives that over the past two years, the Ministry has launched several climate-related projects with support from international partners, including the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and the Adaptation Fund.
These initiatives include the Pakistan Recharge Project in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; The Partnership for Community Resilience Program in Sindh; Acumen Climate Action Fund in Pakistan; Integrated climate risk management projects in Buner and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and facility of resilient water infrastructure across the country.
Other initiatives include a local private sector climate action project, a regional program to convert glaciers into farms, projects to combat land degradation in the northern Punjab districts of Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum, the Pakistan Bioeconomy Banana Initiative in Sindh, and a Safer Pakistan program in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
The minister said that these projects aim to reduce exposure to floods, improve water use efficiency, stabilize agricultural crops, enhance the ecosystem and community resilience, and enhance institutional capacity to manage climate risks. She added that a digital monitoring and evaluation system is being developed to track the progress of the national adaptation plan, which is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
She explained that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination does not implement these projects directly. Instead, its implementation is overseen by project steering committees that include multiple stakeholders, including provincial governments.
Dr. Shaizra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal said climate-induced disasters such as floods, heatwaves and droughts are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change and pose serious threats to vulnerable populations in Pakistan as well as globally.
The minister added that the ministry ensures fair distribution of adaptation resources through an approach based on assessing vulnerabilities and risks. County governments were also asked to operationalize the national adaptation plan at the county level through county-led local adaptation plans.
She said that the Center for Global Change Impact Studies supports the process through high-resolution climate projections and sectoral impact assessments, while the Planning Committee applies the preliminary climate and risk assessment in the private sector development phase and the PC-I phase to guide project design and ensure that resources are directed to the most climate-vulnerable areas and communities.
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