Pakistan is facing severe challenges due to climate change, with the country ranked among those most vulnerable to environmental disasters. In a recent seminar organized by the National Disaster Risk Management Fund, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, highlighted the urgent need for proactive and sustainable measures to address these challenges.
The minister recalled how the catastrophic floods of 2022 affected 33 million people and inflicted economic losses exceeding 30 billion dollars. He emphasized that Pakistan can no longer rely solely on disaster relief efforts after a crisis occurs. Instead, he called for a shift towards enhanced preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and robust disaster risk financing.
Under the “Uraan Pakistan” vision, disaster risk financing is being made a top national priority. Iqbal explained that building financial capacity to withstand natural disasters is crucial for safeguarding both lives and the economy.
He also warned that Pakistan’s glaciers are among the most vulnerable in the world, a concern underscored by the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the Year of Glacier Protection. The minister said that risks such as glacial lake outburst floods demand financial planning and preparedness on a national scale.
Iqbal concluded that disaster risk financing is not simply a technical option but an essential national necessity. He stressed that adopting strong preventive measures is vital not just for protecting citizens and stabilizing the economy but also for demonstrating Pakistan’s resilience on the global stage.
