In a first, Pakistan launches seven-year plan to deal with adverse effects of climate change 

People make their way through a waterlogged road after a heavy rainfall in Lahore on June 26, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 29 July 2023
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In a first, Pakistan launches seven-year plan to deal with adverse effects of climate change 

  • The development comes as Pakistan once again witnesses torrential monsoon showers that have claimed nearly 170 lives so far 
  • Climate change ministry says the plan will set out the government’s efforts to better anticipate and manage climate-related events 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a seven-year National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for the first time in its history to deal with adverse impacts of climate change in the country, its climate change ministry said late Friday, as the South Asian nation continues to grapple with extreme climate events, including droughts, heavy rains and floods. 

Pakistan’s climate change ministry has warned that water availability will be reduced by a gradual rise in temperature and periodic, but consistent, heatwaves, unpredictable and severe monsoons with more frequent extreme weather events will cause more floods and droughts, and the sea level rise is expected to continue encroaching on coastal settlements, infrastructure, and ecosystems. 

The NAP process will be addressing issues in various sectors such as water, agriculture, forestry, coastal areas, biodiversity, and other vulnerable ecosystems to ensure water, food, and energy security for the country as well as to minimize the impacts of natural disasters on the economy, human life, health and property. 

“The overall impacts of climate change, if not addressed, will exacerbate Pakistan’s economic susceptibility and could resultantly reduce annual GDP by up to 20 percent per year by 2050,” read the NAP document shared by the climate change ministry. 

“Adaptation for sustainable and resilient development is more a necessity than a choice for Pakistan. It is thus critical-and is an essential component of a sustainable and equitable growth strategy-to build resilience and adapt to climate risks.” 




Motorcyclists wade through a flooded street in Karachi on July 24, 2023. (AFP/File)

The NAP process is part of an international initiative established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) that resulted from the realization of the fragmented nature of adaptation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the need to make it cohesive. It focuses on synergizing diverse forms of knowledge (scientific, indigenous, and traditional) as critical policy pathways for achieving required transformation in priority areas. 

For instance, the main targets for water conservation includes a 20 percent increase in water use efficiency through modern irrigation techniques, refurbishment of irrigation infrastructure, real-time monitoring of water distribution for transparent water accounting and development of a unified authentic database to have reliable water resources assessment. To achieve this, the government last year allocated Rs90.312 billion (10 percent of total PSDP) for 91 water sector development projects and studies, according to the document. 

Agriculture and livestock constitute the largest sector of the economy that has been greatly impacted by the recent climate-induced floods, with labor participation and livelihood of a majority of the population directly or indirectly depending on it. However, during the last few decades, its contribution to GDP has gradually decreased to 19.3 percent. The government intends to develop a proper risk management system, encourage farmers to plant a variety of heat and drought-resistant low-delta crops, provide enabling financial environment to farmers, and promote energy-efficient farm mechanization to increase yields and laborsaving among other measures to boost the sector. 




Farmers distribute bundle of rice seedlings for planting at paddy field on the outskirts of Lahore on June 7, 2023. (AFP/File)

Similar strategies have been devised for disaster preparedness, human health, forestry, biodiversity, gender and urban resilience in the South Asian country. 

There was an increase of 0.63°C during the past century in conformity with the average global temperature increase, however, during the period 1981-2005, the decadal mean temperature rise over Pakistan was 0.39°C as compared to 0.177°C for the globe as a whole, which implies that the warming over Pakistan was twice as fast as the global mean temperature rise, according to the climate change ministry. 

Due to the rising temperatures, extreme climatic phenomena, including floods, droughts, cyclones, torrential rainstorms and extremely high temperatures, are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity across the country. Since 2000, there has been a significant rise in the variability of the monsoon. As a result, Pakistan has witnessed floods of varied sizes every year since 2010, which have greatly damaged property and claimed a significant number of lives. 

“The National Adaptation Plan is aimed at setting out what the government will do to support efforts across all levels of government, business, and the community, to better anticipate, manage and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” the document stated further. 

“It involves a range of broad, cross-sectoral challenges. An effective national adaptation response requires coordinated action across the natural, built, social and economic domains to the strength of the economy, adhere to national security, the resilience of our society and operation of natural systems.” 

The development comes as Pakistan once again witnesses torrential monsoon showers that have claimed nearly 170 lives so far this year and triggered migration from low-lying areas due to a flood-like situation. 

The rains have returned to Pakistan a year after the climate-induced downpour swelled rivers and inundated at one point one-third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage in cash-strapped Pakistan in 2022. 

Pakistan is in a forced state of adaptation and is among the most severely threatened countries in terms of climate–induced challenges, especially in the context of its dependency on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, natural resources and the environment, and socio-economic issues such as poverty, according to the climate change ministry. The country’s adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change is inevitable and likely to become critical in the future. 

“The reduction of vulnerability will be achieved by building adaptive capacity and resilience and through the implementation of adaptation actions... including facilitating the integration of climate change adaptation into existing strategies, policies, legal frameworks, and programs,” the document read. 

“Climate change will impact each domain differently. It is important to recognize that within the four domains are individuals, businesses, communities, organizations and governments, all facing unique challenges and barriers. To respond to these challenges, we need to work together on tailored, co-designed solutions.” 

The ministry said the two main objectives of the process were to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity, and to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into relevant new and existing policies, programs, and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors. 

Initial guidelines for the formulation of NAP were divided into four main elements, including laying the groundwork and addressing gaps, preparatory elements, implementation strategies, and reporting, monitoring, and review of climate-related events, it added. 


PSL 2025: Explosive Farhan smashes century as Islamabad thump Peshawar by 102 runs

Updated 14 April 2025
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PSL 2025: Explosive Farhan smashes century as Islamabad thump Peshawar by 102 runs

  • Sahibzada Farhan smashes 106 runs from 52 balls, hitting 13 fours and five sixes in his innings
  • Islamabad United’s Imad Wasim returns figures of 3/26, Shadab Khan 2/29, Ben Dwarshuis 2/23

ISLAMABAD: Defending champions Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi by a mammoth 102 runs on Monday, driven by an explosive century by right-handed batter Sahibzada Farhan as the two sides faced each other in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 clash at Rawalpindi. 

United batted first, scoring an impressive 243/5 from their 20 overs. Their innings was led by opener Farhan, who smashed 106 runs from 52 balls, hitting 13 fours and five sixes. Colin Munro contributed with a quickfire 40 from 27 balls while Salman Ali Agha scored a 30-run knock from 15 balls. 

Zalmi bowlers Hussain Talat and Azarri Joseph each grabbed two wickets. 

“Credit goes to Sahibzada Farhan for his hard work behind the scenes,” United skipper Shadab Khan said at the post-match conference. “When you don’t perform, we will judge you as if you haven’t done the hard work. But he did play for Pakistan in and out for some time, he did the right stuff, and eventually it has come out.”

It was yet another disappointing day for Zalmi skipper Babar Azam, who was caught by Holder off a Ben Dwarshuis delivery after scoring only one run. In-form opener Saim Ayub failed to make a dent, falling for six runs while Mitchell Owen made only 10 before he was dismissed by Imad Wasim. 

Only Zalmi middle-order batter Mohamamd Haris impressed, scoring 87 runs from 47 balls but the rest of the batters such as Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Talat and George Linde all fell cheaply to trigger a Zalmi batting collapse. 

Former Karachi Kings captain Wasim was instrumental in Zalmi’s fall, returning figures of 3/26 from his four overs while Khan and Dwarshuis both took two wickets each. Holder and Naseem Shah each took a single wicket as Zalmi were bowled out for 141 in 18.2 overs. 

Farhan was awarded the Player of the Match award.


Police recover bodies of 2 kidnapped constables in northwest Pakistan amid surging militancy

Updated 14 April 2025
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Police recover bodies of 2 kidnapped constables in northwest Pakistan amid surging militancy

  • Constables Hameed Shah, Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from their homes in South Waziristan district, say police
  • In separate incident, seven laborers injured in bomb blast targeting under-construction building of Rescue 1122 in northwestern Tank district

PESHAWAR: The bodies of two kidnapped constables were recovered from a deserted area in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, a police spokesperson said, as the country struggles to contain surging militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. 

Constables Hameed Shah and Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Wana town in South Waziristan district on Saturday, police spokesperson Habib Islam said. Members of the Dotani tribe chased the gunmen, trading fire with them. Three militants were killed while two, including a local tribesman and a girl, were injured during the clash. 

“The martyred personnel were kidnapped two days ago from their homes in Tui Khula, a locality on the outskirts of Wana, the main town in the district,” Islam told Arab News.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, but suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit or the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani law enforcers since 2007. 

The banned unit has increased its attacks on Pakistani law enforcers since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the state and the TTP broke down. Pakistan blames neighboring Afghanistan for providing sanctuary to TTP militants, a charge Kabul vehemently denies. 

In a separate incident, seven laborers were injured in the northwestern Tank district on Monday when a bomb blast targeted the under construction building of a prominent rescue emergency service, police said. 

Tank police spokesperson Younas Khan said the explosion struck an under-construction Rescue 1122 building located in Wazirabad area in Tank.

Rescue 1122 teams responded quickly, shifting the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for medical treatment, Khan said. Following the incident, a large contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible for the blast, he said.


Pakistan parliament adopts unanimous resolution against Israel’s ‘heinous wave of atrocities’ in Gaza

Updated 14 April 2025
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Pakistan parliament adopts unanimous resolution against Israel’s ‘heinous wave of atrocities’ in Gaza

  • Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presents resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire, resumption of aid to Palestinians
  • Gaza’s health ministry says at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when Israel resumed military attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning Israel’s “heinous wave of atrocities” in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinian citizens and demanding an immediate ceasefire in the territory, state-run media reported. 
Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when a shaky ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke down, taking the overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 to 50,944.
The resolution was moved by Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during a session of the lower house of parliament. The resolution noted that the latest Israeli offensive has resulted in the killing of over 1500 Palestinians, rebuking the destruction of complete civil infrastructure in Gaza including houses, hospitals, schools and places of worship. 
“The National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution, once again strongly condemning the ongoing heinous wave of atrocities by the Zionist Israeli regime in Gaza,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 
The National Assembly expressed “unwavering solidarity” with the people of Palestine, reaffirming their inalienable right to self-determination and an independent motherland.
The resolution also expressed dismay at the international community’s failure to halt Israeli aggression, calling urgently for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. It also demanded uninterrupted and sustainable humanitarian assistance to besieged and beleaguered Palestinians in the territory.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the entire Pakistani nation stands united when it comes to Palestine. He pointed out that Pakistan has a unique distinction on its passport, which does not allow its holders to travel to Israel. 
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.


Pakistan to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio in nationwide campaign in April

Updated 14 April 2025
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Pakistan to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio in nationwide campaign in April

  • Over 400,000 volunteers to participate in nationwide polio drive from Apr. 21-27, says health minister
  • Stresses cooperation among federal, provincial governments and global partners to eliminate polio

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will vaccinate over 45 million children against poliovirus in April in its second nationwide campaign against the disease this year, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Monday, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to rid the country of the infection. 

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus. 

Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May.

“The second national polio campaign of the year is scheduled from Apr. 21 to 27 nationwide,” Kamal said while chairing a high-level meeting on polio eradication, which was attended by provincial health ministers.

“Over 400,000 trained polio workers will participate, aiming to administer polio vaccination drops to over 45 million children.”

Kamal lamented that Karachi’s sewage samples continued to test positive for poliovirus. The minister directed authorities to formulate a strategy for the nationwide polio campaign, highlighting that a “coordinated approach” was essential to completely eradicate the disease.

The minister stressed the importance of cooperation among federal and provincial governments, as well as international partners, to ensure the success of polio eradication efforts. 

Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage. Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.

In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.


Pakistan, Morocco kick off joint counterterror exercise to promote military ties

Updated 14 April 2025
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Pakistan, Morocco kick off joint counterterror exercise to promote military ties

  • Exercise’s third edition aimed at refining professional skills of both armies, says Pakistan military’s media wing
  • Pakistan enjoys cordial relations and cooperation in trade, defense and other sectors with various Arab nations

ISLAMABAD: The armies of Pakistan and Morocco kicked off the third edition of their joint bilateral military exercise on Monday, the Pakistani military’s media wing said, stressing that the drill was aimed at enhancing professional skills of their soldiers and promoting defense relations between the two countries. 

Pakistan enjoys cordial ties and strong defense relations with Arab countries, which often causes them both to engage in frequent training exercises, defense production collaborations and counter-terrorism intelligence sharing. 

“Opening Ceremony of 3rd Pak-Morocco Joint Bilateral Military Exercise-2025 was held between the Armies of Pakistan and Morocco in counter terrorism domain at Special Operations School, Cherat,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, (ISPR) the army’s media wing, said in a statement. 

Cherat is a hill station located northwestern Pakistan’s Nowshera district. 

Pakistan’s Special Services Group and the Moroccan Army’s special forces are taking part in the exercise, the statement confirmed. 

“The exercise is aimed at refining professional skills through joint training and harnessing historic military to military relations among the friendly countries,” the ISPR said. 

The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Morocco is marked by cordial ties and historic fraternity, according to Pakistan’s foreign office. 

In November last year, Moroccan Air Force Inspector Major General Mohammed Gadih expressed his interest in collaborating with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the aerospace sector. 

During his visit, the Pakistani air chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military ties with Morocco through joint training programs, including those at the basic and tactical levels, for Moroccan Air Force personnel.