SEPA Climate Change Policy is gaining momentum as the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), in collaboration with UNICEF, organized an impactful awareness workshop in Sukkur. Held on Tuesday, November 25, the session brought together government officials, climate experts, NGOs, private sector representatives, and media professionals to discuss the implementation of the Sindh Climate Change Policy 2022 at the district level.

This initiative comes at a time when Pakistan ranks among the top climate-vulnerable countries, facing extreme heat, floods, water scarcity, and rising disease burdens. The workshop placed special emphasis on how Sindh—one of Pakistan’s most climate-sensitive provinces—can adopt a strong, inclusive, and data-driven adaptation approach.

SEPA Climate Change Policy Workshop: A Strong Step Forward

The workshop aimed to build capacity and create awareness among district-level stakeholders who are responsible for transforming policy into action. Experts discussed:

• The urgency of localized climate plans
• Incorporating resilience into all development projects
• Strengthening coordination among departments
• Practical steps to implement the SEPA Climate Change Policy across Sindh’s districts

Participants acknowledged that the Sindh Climate Change Policy 2022 provides a strong foundation, but district-level execution remains the greatest challenge.

Dr. Muhammad Amir Ansari: Enforcing Environmental Laws Is Critical

Additional Commissioner Sukkur, Dr. Muhammad Amir Ansari, opened the session with a powerful message:

• Environmental laws must be implemented at the district level
• SEPA has a central role in executing climate policy
• A policy without indicators and monitoring cannot succeed

He emphasized the need for performance indicators, regular evaluations, and departmental accountability.

Dr. Ansari reminded participants that Pakistan’s climate threats are not theoretical—they are real, recurring, and becoming more severe each year.

UNICEF’s Shakeeb Jan: Climate Change Is a Serious Multidimensional Threat

UNICEF Water and Sanitation Officer, Shakeeb Jan, delivered a bold warning:
Climate change is already impacting health, water resources, food security, agriculture, and wildlife in Sindh.

Key threats highlighted:

• Rising temperatures increasing disease outbreaks
• Groundwater depletion
• Flood-driven contamination of drinking water
• Agricultural losses due to unpredictable weather
• Wildlife habitat destruction

Jan stressed that mitigation and adaptation must now be integrated across every policy and development project.

For reference, UNICEF’s global climate initiatives can be explored here:
https://www.unicef.org/environment

SEPA’s Dr. Gul Amir Simbal: Collective Action Is Key

SEPA Assistant Director, Dr. Gul Amir Simbal, said climate change cannot be addressed by the government alone. She stressed:

• Stronger media involvement
• Collaboration with social personalities
• Integration of climate topics in education
• Inter-departmental coordination for emergency response

Her message aligned with the SEPA Climate Change Policy, which focuses on mainstreaming climate resilience across public institutions.

UNICEF Consultant Sajid Zaman: Sujawal Model Shows Real Results

UNICEF Consultant Sajid Zaman emphasized Pakistan’s severe vulnerability to climate disasters. He introduced UNICEF’s model climate resilience project in Sujawal district, which demonstrated:

• Improved community awareness
• Enhanced water management systems
• Disaster preparedness measures
• Better adaptation practices at household level

This model is now being studied for possible replication across multiple districts in Sindh.

The SEPA Climate Change Policy encourages such pilot projects as they offer real-world evidence of what works.

Stakeholders Suggest Stronger Resilience Measures

Participants from government departments, NGOs, academia, private sector and media highlighted several recommendations:

Strengthening District-Level Institutions

Better staffing, budget allocation, and training for environment offices.

Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction in Planning

Every infrastructure project should include a climate impact review.

Community Engagement

Awareness programs to prepare communities for floods, heatwaves, and droughts.

Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Support for farmers through drought-resistant seeds, insurance, and water-efficient irrigation.

Digital Climate Monitoring

Using mobile-based alerts and data systems for early warnings.

These suggestions align with the goals outlined in the SEPA Climate Change Policy, making its implementation more practical and community-centered.

Conclusion: A Roadmap for Sindh’s Climate-Resilient Future

The Sukkur workshop represents a powerful and much-needed step toward transforming the SEPA Climate Change Policy into real, measurable action.

Experts agreed that:

• Sindh’s climate threats require urgent, coordinated, and science-based measures
• District-level implementation is the missing link in the climate response chain
• Collective action between SEPA, government bodies, UNICEF, media, and communities is essential

With climate challenges increasing every year, this workshop marks a positive move toward building a climate-resilient Sindh, ensuring safer communities, sustainable development, and stronger environmental governance.