Latest news with #MusadikMalik
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, SPAR6C explore carbon market
Listen to article Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, held a meeting on Tuesday with the delegation of SPAR6C (Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation), a global initiative overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). SPAR6C is a five-year programme (2022-2027) supporting Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand, and Zambia in preparing to participate effectively in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. According to a statement, during the meeting, both sides discussed avenues for strengthening Pakistan's readiness for Article 6 cooperation, with a particular focus on the student sponsorship programme under SPAR6C. They reviewed ongoing support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research related to Article 6 and explored future opportunities to connect their expertise with national carbon market initiatives.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's climate change minister has reaffirmed the country's commitment to rolling out its first national carbon market, following a meeting on Tuesday with a United Nations-backed initiative helping the country build on carbon market policy guidelines launched last year. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from SPAR6C, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation program, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The five-year project is helping Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand and Zambia develop the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord. 'Pakistan is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market,' Malik said, according to a statement released by his office, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country's climate goals. The ministry noted that the meeting reviewed support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research on emissions trading under SPAR6C. Both sides also discussed 'ongoing and upcoming carbon trading opportunities in Pakistan and potential projects under evaluation,' though no new agreements were announced. Pakistan presented its draft carbon market policy guidelines at COP28 in Dubai last year and has been preparing to formally roll them out at COP29 in Baku later this year. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on cutting emissions by trading carbon credits, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for developing economies. The South Asian nation does not yet have an operational carbon trading platform but has launched policy guidelines and is developing systems to implement its first market. It ranks among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, while contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions. It has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support. SPAR6C's work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.
Arab News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's climate minister orders action over black bear killing in northern region
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik on Saturday ordered strict action against a group of people who killed a black bear in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, according to an official statement, saying such brutality cannot be overlooked under any circumstances. A video of the incident circulating on social media shows three individuals pushing the unconscious bear down a rocky mountainside. Authorities have already lodged a police complaint and are working with the local community to ensure the accused are brought to justice. 'Such acts of violence against wildlife are utterly unacceptable and will not be allowed to continue under any circumstances,' an official statement quoted Malik as saying. It added he had 'directed the Wildlife Management Boards to take strict and immediate action against those responsible.' The minister also stressed his commitment to protecting Pakistan's wildlife and enforcing conservation laws across all regions, adding that community engagement was critical to prevent such incidents. Acts of animal cruelty are not rare in Pakistan. In June 2024, a landlord in Sanghar district, Sindh, ordered the brutal amputation of a camel's leg for straying into his fields. Days later, another mutilated camel was found dead in the region with its legs amputated. Animal rights activists have also condemned practices like bear dancing, where the animals are trained by being forced to stand on hot metal plates, and bear baiting, a blood sport in which the chained bear is attacked by dogs for public spectacle. Though officially banned, both practices have been reported in parts of the country over the years.
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan seeks Saudi support for desert reclamation, afforestation projects amid climate worries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik has said that his ministry is seeking Saudi Arabia's support for comprehensive climate projects that include desert reclamation, afforestation and carbon offset initiatives, amid Islamabad's efforts to deal with climate-related challenges. Pakistan has 4.2 million hectares of forest and planted trees, which equates to 4.8 percent of its total land area, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. The country is currently focusing on combating desertification through afforestation, water management and sustainable agricultural practices. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is playing a leading role in global climate action and launched in 2021 the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) that aims to mitigate climate change impacts by raising $10.4 billion for clean energy, planting 50 billion trees and restoring degraded lands spanning 200 million hectares in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In February 2022, the two brotherly countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in nine environmental areas, including pollution control, nature protection, forestry, biodiversity, desertification, hazardous waste management, marine conservation, air quality monitoring and environmental training exchanges. 'I am going to work directly with them [Saudi Arabia] on climate initiatives, on claiming deserts, on building forests, and on [carbon] offsetting,' Malik told Arab News in an interview on Thursday. 'I just need a little bit more time to put a package together.' He said Saudi Arabia had always extended its unwavering support to Pakistan and he would soon visit the Kingdom to discuss climate collaboration between the two nations. 'It's on my table right now to put together those projects with carbon offsets, or whatever those initiatives are, and take them there, which are viable, real, doable and meaningful,' Malik said. Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns, which have led to frequent heatwaves, untimely rains, floods, storms, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Malik said his ministry was working on green mobility and recycling initiatives in partnership with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to drive climate action to benefit the poor. 'They have sent me a letter about starting a movement on behalf of the entire world south… moving the recycling kind of revolution in a manner which serves the poor people of Pakistan,' he said. In 2022, deadly floods submerged a third of Pakistan, claimed more than 1,700 lives and affected 33 million people, causing more than $30 billion in economic losses. So far this monsoon season, which began in late June, at least 87 people have been killed and 149 others injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan, with the death toll expected to rise further as heavy rains continue to batter the South Asian nation. But Malik believed the country was unlikely to face flood-like conditions similar to 2022 as the climate patterns showed a 'balancing effect' between glacier melt and rainfall. 'Where the melting is increasing, the rainfalls are projected to decrease,' he said. 'The signs, the projections that we have seen, the numbers that we have seen, basically show that hopefully we would have a good, decent, and manageable year.' Speaking of Pakistan's early warning systems, the minister acknowledged 'serious gaps' in the mechanisms despite previous investments, saying efforts were underway to fix deficiencies that hinder timely disaster alerts. 'The early warning systems, after all of the investments that we've done… they are not able to give us warning in a timely manner… those systems are not working,' he said. Asked about international climate funding to Pakistan post-2022 floods, Malik said the funding was declining due to Pakistan's 'limited absorptive capacity and lack of impactful projects.' 'We did not have a lot of absorptive power and even when funding was available, we did not come up with enough projects,' he said, adding that the country could only draw around $50-$70 million despite $500 million commitments. He said his ministry had engaged youngsters from environmental sciences background to develop ideas, projects and startups to help attract international funding. 'We are going to come up with lowest cost, highest impact projects, and we are going to go after them,' Malik added.
Arab News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Minister orders probe into killing of barking deer on Islamabad's Margalla Hills
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik has taken notice of the killing of an endangered barking deer on Islamabad's Margalla Hills and ordered a probe into the incident, the Press Information Department (PID) said on Saturday. Barking deer, also known as Indian muntjac, are found in isolated populations within Margalla Hills National Park, Khanpur Range and Lathrar near the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. They are considered endangered in Pakistan due to their restricted range and declining population. A disturbing video circulating on social media this week showed three men slaughtering the rare animal on the roadside and has sparked public anger and calls to investigate the incident. Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Malik condemned the hunting and killing of wildlife in protected areas, according to a PID statement. 'Such acts of cruelty and disregard for conservation laws are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,' the minister, who has sought a report from authorities on the incident, was quoted as saying. Separately, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) said it had filed a complaint with police, seeking action against the ones involved in the incident for violating the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act. 'Barking deer is a protected animal under Schedule 1 of the act,' the IWMB said on X. 'A request has been made for action under sections 12.4(a) and 16.1(a) of the Nature Act 2024.' The board said a violation of the relevant section of the law is punishable by a fine of Rs1 million ($3,523) and imprisonment for a term of up to one year. Pakistan has witnessed frequent incidents of violation of wildlife laws. An escaped pet lion chased a woman and two children down a busy street in Pakistan's Lahore, police said Friday, with dramatic footage showing the big cat leaping a wall before pouncing on them. All three were taken to hospital but were not in a critical condition. Keeping exotic animals, especially big cats, as pets has long been seen as a sign of privilege and power in Punjab, the most populous province of the country. Police said they had arrested three men. 'The suspects fled from the spot, taking the lion with them. They were arrested within 12 hours of the incident,' the office of the Deputy Inspector General Operations in Lahore said. The lion, an 11-month-old male, has been confiscated by police and sent to a wildlife park.
