Islamabad: On Monday, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Climate Change ordered the ministry to work towards establishing an agency on climate change as soon as possible, a news source reported. Committee Chairperson Senator Sitara Ayaz said that this move was of the utmost importance, since Pakistan was one of the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Ayaz added that setting up the agency had been on the table for years, but the process is yet to be formalised. Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change Hasan Nasir Jami replied that the legislation for the agency was being drafted. As soon as the process is complete, they will begin the process of filling an approximately 72 professional positions. Four members of the committee will be part of the team, and input will be sought from the agency on all matters of importance.
Jami told the meeting that large amounts of money were available on the international level that were meant to be used for problems pertaining to climate change. This can prove to be a significant opportunity for Pakistan.
Head of the Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Fahad Bangash added that Pakistan has already been able to secure USD 37 million for a project to address issues of climate change in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
