Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar highlighted the crucial need for Pakistan to address climate change and adapt the Indus Basin to its impacts, given that a significant portion of the population is closely tied to the river. Speaking at the "Living Indus Initiative" event held during the United Nations' 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28) at the Pakistan Pavilion, PM Kakar underscored that Pakistan's climate challenge is essentially a water challenge and must be promptly addressed.
PM Kakar revealed that Pakistan ranks as the 8th most vulnerable country globally to the effects of climate change. He described the Living Indus Initiative as a comprehensive effort to restore the ecological health of the Indus River within Pakistan's borders, recognizing its vulnerability to climate change.
The prime minister clarified that the government's priorities under the Living Indus Initiative emerged from extensive consultations, resulting in 25 living interventions emphasizing nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches.
PM Kakar emphasized the importance of mobilizing a movement that ensures a healthy Indus for both the present and the future. He called for collaboration and advocacy to give a voice to the Indus River, stating that if not cared for, the river would not be able to take care of the people.
Regarding funding, PM Kakar mentioned the need for a minimum indicative investment ranging from US$11 to 17 billion over the next 15 years, involving contributions from the public sector, private sector, citizens, and communities. He highlighted the "Recharge Pakistan" project, launched as the first step in the Living Indus framework, with an international climate finance of nearly $78 million. This flagship project aims to reduce future flooding and drought impacts while serving as a global model for climate innovation.
PM Kakar called on various stakeholders, including scholars, architects, poets, and literary figures, to contribute to global efforts to address climate change through articles, sermons, addresses, and poetry. The caretaker PM is leading the Pakistani delegation at COP28, attending the World Climate Action Summit on December 1 and 2, along with key ministers and officials.
