Govt’s Bold Climate Change Strategy Gains Momentum Under Uraan Pakistan: Ahsan Iqbal
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal unveils Uraan Pakistan, a bold government strategy for climate change resilience and green financing. Discover how disaster risk financing is reshaping Pakistan’s future.
Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan has launched an ambitious climate change strategy to counter the nation’s rising climate risks, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced on Thursday. Speaking at a high-profile ceremony in Islamabad, he emphasized the government’s commitment to climate resilience through the Uraan Pakistan initiative—a forward-thinking program focusing on climate adaptation, green financing, and disaster risk financing.
Climate Change Strategy is now more than a policy buzzword in Pakistan—it’s a national necessity. Over the past two decades, the country has faced severe climate-related disasters, from the deadly floods of 2010, 2011, 2020, and 2022 to the increasing frequency of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and erratic monsoon patterns. Pakistan is one of the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index.
Uraan Pakistan: A Game-Changing Initiative
Minister Ahsan Iqbal introduced Uraan Pakistan as a bold step toward building a climate-resilient nation. The program supplements existing climate initiatives by promoting green financing, infrastructure upgrades, and long-term climate adaptation strategies.
“Uraan Pakistan is more than a program; it’s a climate resilience blueprint that integrates finance, technology, and data into disaster preparedness,” said Ahsan Iqbal.
The initiative aligns with the government’s broader Vision 2025 development goals and integrates Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to climate action, energy sustainability, and resilient infrastructure.
Disaster Risk Financing: National Insurance Against Calamities
Highlighting a major pillar of Pakistan’s new climate change strategy, the Minister called disaster risk financing (DRF) a “national insurance policy against natural calamities.”
Disaster risk financing is not just a funding mechanism—it is a proactive tool that helps ensure:
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Protection of critical export sectors
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Continuity of productive industries
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Fast recovery from climate disasters
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Lower economic disruptions
“Disaster risk financing under Uraan Pakistan plays a transformative role in shielding our economy from shocks,” Iqbal stated.
Digital Empowerment Through E-Pakistan
The strategy leverages data analytics, digital risk modeling, and GIS technologies under the E-Pakistan initiative, making Pakistan one of the few developing nations integrating advanced digital tools for climate resilience.
Uraan Pakistan will promote:
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Digital modeling of flood risks
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Real-time climate vulnerability mapping
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Integration of AI-driven climate analytics
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Predictive tools for emergency response
This ensures data-driven decision-making and enhances institutional capacity to respond to climate shocks.
Economic Setbacks and Climate-Linked Disasters
Ahsan Iqbal recalled how decades of climate-linked disasters have undermined Pakistan’s economic progress. The 2010 and 2022 floods alone caused losses worth billions of dollars, displacing millions and destroying crops, homes, and infrastructure.
According to the World Bank, Pakistan may face annual climate-related economic losses of 4% to 6% of GDP by 2050 if bold action is not taken.
By integrating climate risk financing and green investments, Uraan Pakistan seeks to break this cycle of vulnerability.
Building Resilience: From Fragility to Readiness
The Planning Minister called for a national mindset shift:
“We must move from reaction to readiness, from fragility to resilience.”
He stressed that resilience and financial preparedness are not optional—they are essential. This means:
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Institutional reforms in planning and budgeting
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Building climate-resilient infrastructure
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Promoting community-based adaptation
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Ensuring financial inclusion in disaster relief
Pakistan’s Climate Change Strategy now focuses on readiness over response, supported by both domestic reforms and international climate financing frameworks.
Way Forward: National and Global Cooperation
The government is actively engaging with international partners, including:
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UNDP and Green Climate Fund (GCF) for technical assistance
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World Bank and ADB for financing disaster risk initiatives
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Bilateral partners like Germany, Japan, and China for climate tech transfers
Internally, the strategy includes partnerships with provincial governments, universities, and private sector investors to co-develop solutions.
“Climate change doesn’t recognize borders. Our response must be equally integrated and global,” Iqbal emphasized.
Conclusion: Hope Through Climate Innovation
Pakistan’s climate change strategy under Uraan Pakistan offers a hopeful roadmap amid the rising climate chaos. With the government prioritizing green financing, digital tools, and disaster risk reduction, the nation is poised to build a resilient future for its people.
However, successful implementation requires cross-sector collaboration, community participation, and unwavering political will. As Pakistan stands at the frontline of climate change, its strategy today will define the sustainability of generations tomorrow.
