Experts for coordinated strategy to avoid impact of climate change

PESHAWAR: Experts in an ‘International Conference on Climate Change and Emerging Trends in Civil Engineering’ at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology have stressed as an urgent need for coordinative strategy to avoid far-reaching impact of the climate changes on Pakistan because it ranks among the top 10 most vulnerable countries in the world.

The two-day conference was organised by GIK Institute, Faculty of Civil Engineering with collaboration of Ministry of climate change, Worldwide Fund for Nature, Tarbela Sustainability Initiative, Ages Consultant, Defense Housing Authority and SINACO Engineers.

Experts from across the country and abroad participated and delivered speeches about tackling the climate changes in a way to protect people’s life, property and impact on Pakistan’s economy.

Aisha Humera Moriani Federal Secretary Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination was chief guest at the inaugural ceremony and Dr Atta Ullah Shah Vice-Chancellor, Karakoram International University, was guest of honor on the occasion.

The gathering was also attended by Khadija Bano Pak-German Climate and Energy Partnership, Dr Akif Raheem International Water Management Institute, Pakistan, Dr Megersa Kebede Leta, University of Rostock, German, Dr Larisa Tarasova, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Germany, Prof. Dr Atta Ullah Shah Vice-Chancellor, Karakoram International University, Shakil Durrani, former chairman WAPDA and incumbent Executive Director of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan and various other experts.

Moriani said that we now live in what scientists described as the era of ‘global boiling’ record-breaking temperature accelerated glacial melt, intensified cyclones, and rising sea levels are no longer future projections—in fact these are unfolding realities. “Climate change is no longer an environmental issue alone, it is a development, infrastructure and economic challenge, particularly for climate-vulnerable countries like Pakistan,” she said “ Recent floods in Pakistan, heat waves, water stress and urban challenges clearly demonstrate that resilient infrastructure is critical to national stability and growth”.

She said that Pakistan is on the frontline of the climate crisis and the main challenges are: water security, catastrophic floods, water scarcity, air pollution, urban smog, ecosystem degradation, deforestation, riverine erosion and critical threat to the Indus Delta.

Dr Atta Ullah Shah said that Pakistan has already seen and experienced devastating climate change impact; especially the Northern Areas were badly hit by the floods which washed away many regions. “We could not stop the climate devastation but we could take steps and measures to protect life and property like the early warning system,” he said. “We are ready to work with the Ministry of climate change and universities to tackle the climate issues. There is also a need to involve the local community”.

Shakil Durrani said that climate change is a global phenomenon. The water level of the rivers is rising which has far-reaching consequences, floods in Pakistan has become an increasing concern and there were rules about climate change tackling but they were not implemented in letter and spirit.

He questioned, what have we done to our mountains? Secondly, we add three million people to our population every year. It also has a great impact on the environment.”

Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Rector GIK Institute said that they would soon ink a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Climate Change to coordinate our efforts to achieve desired results while meeting the climate change challenges.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026