Karachi: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik has stressed the need for inclusive dialogue, climate preparedness and coordinated action to address the country’s growing environmental challenges, saying proactive planning is essential ahead of the monsoon season.
He expressed these views during an interactive session with climate experts, environmental activists and media representatives at the Climate Action Centre here on Friday.
The Minister said Karachi’s diversity of people and ideas had motivated his visit, adding that while the city represented a wide range of perspectives, this diversity was not adequately reflected in its infrastructure and development. He said the government was committed to listening to climate experts and civil society to formulate practical and effective climate policies.
Referring to the approaching monsoon season, Dr Musadik said the government was closely monitoring preparedness measures and reviewing steps required to minimise
the impact of heavy rains and other climate-related emergencies before the peak of the season.
He said northern parts of the country were expected to receive heavy rainfall and could face flooding due to accelerated glacier melting caused by rising temperatures. He added that the government was closely monitoring the situation and that the country’s reservoirs and dams had the capacity to store substantial volumes of water for improved water management during periods of excessive rainfall.
The Minister cautioned that some regions could experience drought because of below-normal rainfall, while urban areas remained vulnerable to cloudbursts and intense downpours that could lead to urban flooding. He said both floods and droughts posed serious threats to agriculture, food security, infrastructure, livelihoods and the national economy, highlighting the need for coordinated response mechanisms.
During the question-and-answer session, Dr Musadik said meaningful environmental progress required collective efforts
despite limited resources. He stressed the importance of involving local communities in identifying solutions to environmental challenges, saying sustainable climate action could only succeed through public participation and collaboration.
He also acknowledged the contributions of climate activists, researchers and environmental organisations, saying their efforts should be recognised and encouraged to strengthen Pakistan’s climate resilience.
Highlighting Pakistan’s renewable energy potential, the minister said the country possessed abundant solar and wind resources and called for a supportive policy and investment environment to accelerate their adoption. He said greater use of renewable energy would reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and contribute to a cleaner environment while advancing the country’s long-term climate and sustainability goals.
The dialogue concluded with an exchange of recommendations between the minister, climate experts and media representatives, reaffirming the
government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, environmental sustainability and collaborative efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s resilience to climate change.