ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said that policy discussions should be well-updated to ground situation as flood devastation left affected communities in Sindh and Balochistan destitute seeking only sustainable livelihoods.

Addressing Donor’s Coordination Group meeting held here by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which was participated by various donors including United Arab Emirates (UAE), French, Italian, Swiss, US, Canada, Japan, World Bank, UNIDO, UN Women and UNDP donors showed their interest in project concepts shared by IUCN team and collaborations. Rehman said vulnerable who worked most closely with nature was not in position to stop exploiting it until they had sustainable livelihoods.

“Let’s not talk about pollyanna sustainable economics. First, we have to get those people on their feet.”

Minister shared that when government and authorities were providing mosquito nets at height of water borne diseases and epidemics because of stagnant water below sea level at various locations there was serious lack supplies of mosquito nets.

 “When we provided mosquito nets to the families during visit to the flood affected areas; what families She emphasised on climate emergency and on rebuilding other than building. She stressed on devastating floods that caused havoc in Pakistan and need to have climate empathy among multi-stakeholders with regards to safeguarding rights of women who were at forefront most neglected segment.

She appreciated IUCN for always providing well needed technical support. She thanked IUCN Pakistan and all the development partners for their respective contributions and support over years. She emphasied that MoCC and IUCN has jointly developed first ever National Climate Change Gender Action PLan of Pakistan that was way forward to mainstream gender in 6 priority sectors impacted due to climate change.

Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan Mahmood Akhtar Cheema gave brief introduction about IUCNs contribution and how this event was themed at IUCNs Nature 2030 goals which included Water, Oceans, Land, People and Climate.

Ambassador of UAE to Pakistan Hamad Alzaabi provided an overview of UAE’s role and preparations for COP28 and showed interest for working together with IUCN Pakistan and Ministry of Climate Change.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 13 2022

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