
Minister advocates effective climate finance mobilisation
In a written reply to a question to the National Assembly on Wednesday, Musadiq Masood Malik said that Ministry of Climate Change supported implementation of the climate change-related policy interventions of these loan agreements. He said that the Minister for Finance has given verbal commitment to allocate funds from these budgetary support loans for climate-related interventions, for which, the ministry is preparing projects to create resilience against climate challenges.
He said that there are three main sources for climate-specific funding namely, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Adaptation Fund. He said that these three sources have mandated climate priorities where the funds could be spend. He said that the Ministry of Climate Change being national designated authority for these funds ensures that all the projects submitted for climate funding to these entities falls within the priorities as indicated in the National Adaptation Plan approved by the federal government and these projects are focused on climate-related activities.
The minister said that in addition these entities also screen all the projects submitted for climate funding have significant climate action to justify the funds. He said that the implementation monitoring of these projects is also carried out both by the ministry, as well as, these entities on periodic basis to ensure that the funds are not diverted to unrelated projects.
He said that transparency and accountability of these projects is ensured through dedicated Project Steering Committees set up for each project, which meet regularly to ensure that the project implementation is carried out in a transparent manner and project team is made fully accountable for any lapse in project implementation.
The minister said that the Ministry of Climate Change is developing National Climate Finance Strategy (NCFS) with the core objective to leverage climate finance internationally and domestically by promoting green financing. He said that it is important to provide a comprehensive framework for mobilising and deploying climate finance, aligning with national priorities and international commitments.
He said that a comprehensive implementation, monitoring and accountability mechanism is being devised by opting whole of government approach which will include all stakeholders (relevant federal ministries, all the provinces including AJK and GB and Pakistan Climate Change Council which is chaired by the prime minister).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Business Recorder
07-08-2025
- Business Recorder
Minister advocates effective climate finance mobilisation
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Musadiq Masood Malik said that the ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs directly deal for $21.85 billion loans agreements, with the Work Bank ($20 billion) and IMF ($ 1.3 billion) and Asian Development Bank ($550 million), as these are budgetary support for climate resilience projects. In a written reply to a question to the National Assembly on Wednesday, Musadiq Masood Malik said that Ministry of Climate Change supported implementation of the climate change-related policy interventions of these loan agreements. He said that the Minister for Finance has given verbal commitment to allocate funds from these budgetary support loans for climate-related interventions, for which, the ministry is preparing projects to create resilience against climate challenges. He said that there are three main sources for climate-specific funding namely, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Adaptation Fund. He said that these three sources have mandated climate priorities where the funds could be spend. He said that the Ministry of Climate Change being national designated authority for these funds ensures that all the projects submitted for climate funding to these entities falls within the priorities as indicated in the National Adaptation Plan approved by the federal government and these projects are focused on climate-related activities. The minister said that in addition these entities also screen all the projects submitted for climate funding have significant climate action to justify the funds. He said that the implementation monitoring of these projects is also carried out both by the ministry, as well as, these entities on periodic basis to ensure that the funds are not diverted to unrelated projects. He said that transparency and accountability of these projects is ensured through dedicated Project Steering Committees set up for each project, which meet regularly to ensure that the project implementation is carried out in a transparent manner and project team is made fully accountable for any lapse in project implementation. The minister said that the Ministry of Climate Change is developing National Climate Finance Strategy (NCFS) with the core objective to leverage climate finance internationally and domestically by promoting green financing. He said that it is important to provide a comprehensive framework for mobilising and deploying climate finance, aligning with national priorities and international commitments. He said that a comprehensive implementation, monitoring and accountability mechanism is being devised by opting whole of government approach which will include all stakeholders (relevant federal ministries, all the provinces including AJK and GB and Pakistan Climate Change Council which is chaired by the prime minister). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
04-08-2025
- Express Tribune
PM turns up the pace on relief for flood-hit G-B
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a Rs4 billion relief package for Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to help the region cope with recent flood devastation and instructed for establishing an advanced weather alert system to minimise losses in any future eventuality. The prime minister visited G-B to take stock of the devastation caused by persistent heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding. During his visit, he chaired high-level meetings and also discussed the status of ongoing development projects with the local leadership. The country's northern and central regions have witnessed heavy rains since the monsoon season began in the last week of June. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), these rains and subsequent flash floods have resulted in 299 deaths nationwide. Last week, the G-B government declared a state of emergency in 37 flood-ravaged areas across the region. The catastrophic flash floods have claimed at least 10 lives, left several tourists missing, and caused an estimated Rs20 billion in damages. G-B government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq had appealed for federal support in the wake of the massive devastation, expressing hope that the national leadership would step in to assist the victims and help heal their wounds. Speaking at a ceremony in Gilgit on Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz announced the Rs4 billion package for relief and rehabilitation in the flood-hit areas. He also distributed cheques among the families of those who were killed in the recent floods and rains. Shehbaz directed that work on repairing damaged roads, infrastructure, and other development projects in the area be accelerated. He assured that the federal government would continue to collaborate with the G-B government in its relief efforts. Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on rehabilitation work, the prime minister emphasised the need for early warning systems, preparedness for relief operations, and the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable areas, keeping in view the challenges of climate change. "The NDMA and the Ministry of Climate Change should jointly establish a forecasting and monitoring centre for Gilgit-Baltistan in the coming months," the prime minister told the meeting. He added that a comprehensive system must be developed for immediate rescue and assistance in emergencies. During the meeting, the provincial administration and the NDMA chairman briefed the prime minister on the losses caused by the heavy monsoon rains, the expected weather conditions, and the actions taken so far. The Ministry of Climate Change informed the meeting about the progress on installing an early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), while the Ministry of Communications provided a briefing on the damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The prime minister instructed that all damaged infrastructure should be rebuilt with climate resilience in mind. He directed the NDMA to cooperate with the Ministry of Climate Change to complete the installation of the early warning system within the next two months. Regarding development projects, the prime minister announced that Daanish Schools would be established in Gilgit-Baltistan. He also mentioned that he was personally overseeing the solar power project approved by the Central Development Working Party for the region. During his daylong visit, the prime minister met with G-B Governor Mehdi Shah, who apprised him of the post-flood situation. Separately, G-B Chief Minister Gulbar Khan also called on the prime minister to discuss key local issues. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)


Express Tribune
04-08-2025
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz assesses flood-damage in Gilgit-Baltistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a review meeting on Hajj arrangements for the upcoming year in Islamabad on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday and chaired a high-level meeting to review the damage caused by recent heavy rains, flash floods, and cloudbursts in the region. He was received by Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, who briefed him on the scale of destruction caused by persistent rainfall, including landslides and flooding. Expressing sorrow over the losses, the prime minister said Gilgit-Baltistan had suffered significant damage due to extreme weather events. He reiterated that Pakistan is among the countries most severely affected by climate change, despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions. Shehbaz stressed that the impacts of climate change are intensifying each year and called for urgent, effective measures to combat them. He said the Ministry of Climate Change has been directed to take immediate action. Declaring the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) a key national institution, he noted that federal agencies are working closely with the Gilgit-Baltistan government to accelerate relief and rescue operations. The prime minister also received a ground-level briefing on the situation and was informed of the status of ongoing development projects in the region, as well as efforts by the local administration to manage the crisis. The meeting discussed the launch of a Danish school in Gilgit-Baltistan, with PM Shehbaz confirming that the project would soon be implemented to enhance educational standards. Both leaders offered prayers for those who lost their lives in the floods. The prime minister expressed deep concern over the damage to infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods, and assured the region of the federal government's full support. Tourists among dead as emergency declared in 37 flood-hit areas G-B government declared a state of emergency in 37 areas across the mountainous region after floods claimed at least 10 lives, most of them tourists, and left several others missing. Read: Emergency declared in 37 G-B flood-hit areas Four people were reported injured while at least a dozen more remain unaccounted for, with rescue operations ongoing. According to a notification issued by the G-B Home Department, the affected locations span eight districts, including Diamer, Gilgit, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Nagar and Kharmang. Entire villages have been swamped, roads washed away, and homes reduced to rubble as swollen rivers surged through valleys with terrifying force. 'People have suffered losses which include loss of human lives, livestock, damage to houses, infrastructure and standing crops,' the notification read, invoking the National Calamities (Prevention and Relief) Act, 1958. G-B government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed that 22 vehicles had been swept away and 509 houses were destroyed in the floods. Flash floods claim 299 lives across Pakistan since late June While G-B bears the immediate brunt, the broader picture across Pakistan is equally alarming. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), floods and torrential rains since June 26 have killed 299 people nationwide, including 140 children. Read more: Flash floods killed 299 across Pakistan since June 26: NDMA Another 715 individuals have been injured, while over 1,600 houses have either been damaged or destroyed. The loss of 428 livestock has further deepened the hardship for affected families. The NDMA has conducted 223 rescue operations and evacuated nearly 2,900 people from flood-hit areas. Thousands of essential relief items, including tents, hygiene kits, food packs and de-watering pumps, have been dispatched to affected communities. Medical teams have treated hundreds across 71 emergency camps. From August 4 onward, a fresh monsoon wave is expected to intensify, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods in vulnerable regions.