Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Senior government officials, technical experts, private sector representatives and international partners have convened in Islamabad this week for a three-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s readiness to participate in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

To strengthen Pakistan’s preparedness for participation in international carbon markets under Article 6, this workshop brings together representatives from federal and provincial governments alongside private sector stakeholders to deepen technical knowledge and institutional readiness for implementing Article 6 mechanisms.

The workshop is being held from July 6 to 8 in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCCandEC), the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program, which is globally implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and led by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) in Pakistan.

As countries accelerate efforts to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Article 6 offers new opportunities to mobilise climate finance, support low-carbon investment and strengthen international cooperation. Pakistan has recently taken important steps towards developing its national carbon market framework, creating a timely opportunity to build the technical expertise required for effective participation in these emerging markets.

During the opening ceremony of the workshop MoCCandEC Additional Secretary, Mahmood Hassan expressed his gratitude to the SPAR6C program, UNEP-CCC and UNFCCC for carbon capacity building and expressed high hope that by mastering Article 6 frameworks, rigorous carbon accounting, and data integrity through such workshops, national systems can align seamlessly with strict international standards and market expectations.

‘We stand at a critical juncture where environmental ambition must be matched by robust operational mechanics. Carbon markets are inherently complex, highly dynamic, and rapidly evolving under the global climate regime. This workshop is designed to bridge the gap between high-level policy and real-world execution,’ he added.

Lead trainers shared that over the course of three days, participants will gain practical knowledge of the rules, procedures and institutional arrangements that underpin Article 6 implementation. The programme combines expert presentations, technical demonstrations, interactive discussions and case studies designed to translate international guidance into practical application within Pakistan’s national context.

‘Capacity-building is fundamental to enabling countries to participate effectively in Article 6 mechanisms. By bringing together policymakers, technical experts and practitioners, this workshop supports knowledge exchange, strengthens institutional readiness and promotes high-integrity implementation that contributes to global climate ambition under the Paris Agreement,’ elaborated Zubair Shahid, Programme Officer Market, Non-Markets and Stakeholder Interaction, UNFCCC.

The workshop will build participants understanding of both cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 and the Article 6.4 Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), equipping policymakers and practitioners with the knowledge needed to navigate evolving international carbon markets while ensuring environmental integrity and alignment with national climate priorities.

A central focus of the workshop is strengthening institutional capacity across government agencies responsible for climate policy, project authorisation, registry development, and reporting. Participants will receive hands-on guidance on project development cycles, methodological requirements, reporting obligations, registry systems, authorisation procedures and compliance processes necessary for successful participation in Article 6 mechanisms.

Manuel Moeller, SPAR6C Program Manager at GGGI shared that the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) has supported Pakistan and other partner countries in building readiness needed to participate effectively in Article 6 carbon markets. In Pakistan, this includes strengthening technical capacities, supporting institutional preparedness and helping stakeholders explore how carbon market cooperation can mobilise climate finance while advancing national climate and sustainable development priorities.

Recognising that effective carbon markets require collaboration across and beyond government, the workshop provides dedicated opportunities for dialogue between government institutions, private sector project developers and technical experts.

Discussions will examine practical challenges facing implementation, identify solutions to regulatory and operational barriers, and encourage stronger partnerships for future Article 6 activities.

Participants will also examine evolving international demand for high-integrity carbon credits, the application of sustainable development assessment tools, and the role of non-market approaches under Article 6.8, providing a comprehensive understanding of the wider international carbon market landscape.

Denis Machnik, Senior Advisor – Carbon Markets, UNEP-CC and SPAR6C Pakistan Work Package Lead shared that the project has been helping develop the country’s carbon project pipeline via technical assistance such as the development of a landmark methane capture and carbon market pilot project at the Lakhodair Landfill in Lahore, managed in collaboration with the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), the initiative aims to reduce emissions and access to international carbon finance.

‘The Lakhodair Landfill project serves as a key carbon-reduction blueprint for Pakistan’s waste sector and through technical workshops such as this one, we are equipping more project developers with the tools and knowledge to leverage carbon markets for climate finance while building towards a thriving carbon ecosystem on the private and policy side as well,’ added Machnik.

Beyond technical training, the workshop seeks to establish a shared understanding among key national stakeholders, laying the foundations for coordinated implementation across federal and provincial institutions. By strengthening technical expertise and institutional readiness, the workshop contributes to Pakistan’s broader efforts to access climate finance, accelerate sustainable development and enhance the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. As the workshop concludes, participants will identify priority next steps, ongoing support needs and opportunities for continued collaboration, helping to ensure that the knowledge gained translates into practical action and long-term institutional capacity.

Islamabad: The district administration intensified its action against illegal construction and encroachments in Shah Allah Ditta, demolishing seven unauthorized structures and arresting nine individuals during the latest operation.

Officials also suspended a patwari and removed a revenue estate numberdar over alleged negligence in carrying out official responsibilities.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner Shalimar as part of an ongoing campaign against unlawful construction in the area. According to the district administration here on Monday, teams carried out inspections in Mauza Shah Allah Ditta and took action against structures built without the required approvals.

During the operation, authorities demolished seven illegal construction sites, including a commercial padel court that was under construction without a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Officials said the action was taken without distinction and that all unauthorized developments were treated in accordance with the law.

Nine people were taken into custody from the site during the enforcement drive. The administration did not immediately disclose further details regarding the arrests but stated that legal proceedings would follow under relevant laws.

The district administration also initiated disciplinary measures against officials responsible for monitoring land records and construction activity in the area. A patwari was suspended after authorities determined that he had failed to identify and report illegal construction activities. In a separate action, the numberdar of the revenue estate was removed from his position for alleged negligence in fulfilling official duties.

Officials reiterated that no construction activity was currently permitted in Mauza Shah Allah Ditta and Sangjhani without prior approval from the relevant authorities. The administration warned that any structure built without a valid NOC would be considered illegal and would face immediate demolition.

The district administration said the crackdown would continue and that enforcement teams would remain active to prevent unauthorized development and protect public land. Authorities stressed that all construction projects must comply with legal requirements and obtain the necessary permissions before work begins.

Residents and property owners have been urged to avoid starting any type of construction without securing the required NOC. The administration warned that violations could result in demolition, legal action, and financial losses for those involved.

Officials said the campaign was aimed at ensuring compliance with planning regulations and preventing unlawful occupation and development of land in the affected areas.

Islamabad: An international seminar on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) held in Islamabad on June 30 has marked an extraordinary milestone in Pakistan’s legal, diplomatic, and media strategy.

This first-of-its-kind international gathering successfully catapulted the IWT back into the global spotlight, highlighting Pakistan’s stance that the unilateral suspension or modification of international treaties aligns neither with international law nor the spirit of the international system.

The event proved that Pakistan has effectively shifted the narrative, transforming an issue that India sought to treat as a closed, silent bilateral file into a central topic of global diplomatic dialogue.

The strategic seminar was not merely an academic or policy debate, but a calculated diplomatic initiative designed to elevate the treaty into a broader international discourse centered on treaty obligations, lower riparian rights, water security, and regional stability.

Pakistan effectively framed the IWT not as a simple administrative arrangement between two states, but as a binding international legal obligation affecting regional peace and the water security of millions of people.

Pakistan brought its long-standing legal case, which is permanently recorded at the United Nations Security Council and the Court of Arbitration, directly to the forefront of global public opinion.

The core measure of the seminar’s success was its immense international resonance and its ability to shape the global agenda.

Within hours of the event, global newspapers, news agencies, and policy platforms prominently reported on Pakistan’s legal stance.

Prestigious international print and news agencies, including The Washington Post, Associated Press, The Independent, Arab News, TRT World, BBC Hindi, The Discourse, and The Eastern Herald, published analytical articles and news reports detailing the sanctity of the treaty, lower riparian rights, and regional stability.

While India uses the term “suspension,” the international press focused heavily on international law and treaty compliance, achieving editorial space in Washington, London, Riyadh, and Hong Kong on the exact same day.

Concurrently, the event gained overwhelming traction across India’s top-tier media landscapes, proving that New Delhi could not ignore Islamabad’s narrative.

Major Indian print and digital outlets-including The Hindu, India Today, NDTV, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Navbharat Times, Dainik Jagran, News9, India Herald, MSN India, Deccan Herald, and The Economic Times-provided extensive coverage.

Indian electronic media and YouTube channels, such as ANI, Times Now, CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN-News18, and News18 India, aired broadcast packages, dedicating unprecedented prime-time coverage to the event.

This massive media mobilization revealed a striking disparity in narratives: while global media focused on legal tenets and the principles of international law, the bulk of Indian media avoided the core legal debate, resorting instead to emotional quotes, political reactions, and a framework of fear and anxiety.

However, the Press Trust of India (PTI) stood out as a notable exception by providing straight news reporting without aggressive angles.

The diplomatic impact was fully solidified when the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued an official denial within 72 hours of the seminar.

This rapid response from New Delhi, coupled with its massive media panic, serves as definitive proof of the seminar’s effectiveness.

Ultimately, the seminar demonstrated that Pakistan’s arguments are no longer just Islamabad’s voice, but are now a permanent part of the global policy discourse, leaving India to search for counterarguments in its TV studios.

Islamabad: Dr Mohsin Hafeez, Global Director for Water, Food and Ecosystems at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), has said that harvesting just 25 percent of annual rainfall can significantly reduce groundwater depletion and help control urban flooding in Islamabad.

In an interveiw with reporter, he said IWMI had demonstrated an innovative groundwater recharge model at Kachnar Park, Sector I-8 in the federal capital that stored over 566,000 litres of rainwater at a single site during the last four years while improving groundwater levels and quality.

He said the pilot project was established at a flood-prone site where rainwater from a nearby parade ground regularly inundated the surrounding area during the monsoon. A small recharge pond was constructed to capture runoff, which passes through natural filtration layers of sand and stones before seeping into the aquifer.

Dr Hafeez said the site was equipped with a real-time rain gauge, water flow monitoring instruments and groundwater monitoring sensors, enabling researchers to generate scientific evidence on groundwater recharge and water quality for the first time in Islamabad.

He said monitoring data collected since June 2022 showed the project had recharged more than 566,000 litres of water and raised the local groundwater table by about 4.5 mm without compromising groundwater quality.

Encouraged by the results, he said, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved 100 groundwater recharge sites across Islamabad in 2024 before expanding the initiative with another 100 sites. Around 200 recharge sites are now operational in different parts of the city.

He said the initiative had not only improved groundwater recharge but also reduced rainwater flooding and eased pressure on stormwater drainage channels.

Dr Hafeez said residents living near the recharge sites had reported less flooding during the monsoon season and improved water availability from household boreholes, enabling them to access groundwater for longer periods each day.

He said IWMI’s research indicated that harvesting one-fourth of the city’s annual rainfall would be sufficient to stabilise groundwater depletion in Islamabad.

The IWMI official said the project’s success had also influenced public policy. CDA had incorporated groundwater availability assessments into its by-laws, making them mandatory before approving new housing schemes.

He said the institute, in collaboration with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and other stakeholders, also contributed to the development of Green Building Codes requiring rainwater harvesting systems in new buildings.

Dr Hafeez said that The Federal Cabinet, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the Green Building Code of Pakistan and the Rainwater Harvesting Provisions for the Building Code on July 30, 2025. The Pakistan Engineering Council(PEC) formally launched these codes on December 23, 2025, paving the way for their wider adoption and implementation to promote sustainable construction practices, including rainwater harvesting, across Pakistan.

He said the pilot project cost only about US$15,000, demonstrating that relatively small investments could produce substantial environmental and community benefits.

“We don’t conduct research for the sake of research. We generate evidence that helps shape policy and improve people’s livelihoods through practical, climate-resilient solutions,” he concluded.

Islamabad: On the upcoming 10th death anniversary of the Kashmiri iconic youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8, the indigenous freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people against oppressive Indian state rule takes center stage, highlighting the enormous sacrifices of the youth and leadership of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Burhan Wani, a young and promising student, grew up witnessing the severe brutalities of Indian security forces. At an early age, understanding the hopeless future faced by Kashmiri youth under occupation, he joined the armed struggle on October 16, 2010. His decision was driven by unending Indian repressive human rights violations and a desire to avenge the humiliation of being severely beaten and insulted by Indian troops.

As a commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, Wani became the face of Kashmiri resistance against Indian occupational forces, gaining massive popularity among the Kashmiri populace-especially the youth-through his extensive social media outreach.

For six years, he remained a potent threat to Indian suppression, using modern communication tools like the internet, Facebook, and WhatsApp to promote the Kashmiri cause. His digital activism sent shock-waves through the top ranks of the Indian government and military leadership, giving New Delhi’s security establishment sleepless nights.

Wani was an intelligent and smart freedom fighter with sharp political guts who completely followed the line of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to promote the Kashmiris’ struggle.

Operating under a rigorous schedule, he and his colleagues slept during the day and moved across south Kashmir at night. His deep connection with the local population allowed him to break more than 20 Indian army crackdowns, as local residents regularly rushed to rescue him, pelting security forces with stones during siege-and-search operations.

On July 8, 2016, Burhan Wani was martyred by Indian security agencies. His martyrdom triggered massive, months-long unrest, resulting in over 100 deaths and thousands of injuries, while simultaneously reviving global visibility for the Kashmir cause through digital sharing.

More than one million people gathered to offer 40 funeral prayers for the martyred leader, who was laid to rest close to the grave of his elder brother, Khalid Muzaffar Wani.

Wani’s sacrifice completely debunked Indian propaganda regarding foreign fighters, proving that the Kashmir freedom movement was entirely homegrown, driven by educated local youth including students, scholars, and tech-savvy individuals.

According to statistics, local armed recruitment jumped by 55 percent following his martyrdom. Indian intelligence trends recorded a sharp spike from 53 local recruits in 2014 and 66 in 2015, up to over 100 in 2016, expanding further to 126 in 2017 and peaking at 191 in 2018.

His heroic legacy also gained immense traction within international media.

A decade later, in 2026, Burhan Wani lived on as the ultimate heartbeat of Kashmiri Gen Z. Born into an era of smartphones and suppressed dreams, this generation continued to weaponize his story through digital resistance.

Today’s Gen Z in IIOJK blended his fearless spirit with modern tools-utilizing viral poetry, art that defied blackouts, and education to expose the truth.

Despite India’s continued deployment of brutal tactics-including internet blackouts, social media bans, curfews, illegal detentions, massacres, target killings, house burnings, demolitions, torture, disappearances, rape, molestation of Muslim women, and fake encounters-the freedom struggle of Kashmiris remained unyielding.

Adorned with the blood of its martyrs, the indigenous movement continued to prove that no power on earth could defeat the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

Islamabad: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Security Rana Umar Farooq chaired an important meeting with police Muharrars to review security-related matters and strengthen record management across the Security Division.

An official told reporter on Monday that the meeting focused on the maintenance of security records, official documentation and measures to improve administrative efficiency.

DIG Umar reviewed the record-keeping system and instructed the Muharrars to ensure that all security-related matters were completed on time and in accordance with prescribed procedures.

Rana Umar emphasized the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, directing officers to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, professionalism and a strong sense of accountability.

He said efficient record management and timely completion of official work were essential for improving the overall performance of the Security Division and ensuring effective policing in the federal capital, the official added.