ISLAMABAD: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), co-hosted the “Pakistan’s Humanitarian Future 2025” event. This pivotal gathering focused on enhancing Pakistan’s preparedness and response to climate-induced disasters and associated humanitarian crises.
Despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters—including floods, droughts, heatwaves, and cyclones—highlight the urgent need for proactive disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.
Reflecting on lessons from past crises, including the 2005 earthquake, the 2010 floods, and the catastrophic 2022 floods, the event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, humanitarian organizations, climate scientists, academia, and corporate leaders. The discussions centered on strengthening Pakistan’s resilience and response frameworks.
In his opening remarks, Shahid Kazmi, Country Coordinator for PHF, underscored the critical role of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Pakistan’s humanitarian and development landscape over the past two decades. He noted that recurring emergencies have left lasting impacts across various regions, necessitating long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
The event featured an engaging panel discussion with distinguished speakers, including Idrees Mahsud (Member DRR, NDMA Pakistan), Mubushar Hussain (Manager DRR, NDRMF), Dr. Shah Miran (CEO, MERF), Fatima Arshad (Head of Sustainability, Unilever), and Mohammed Riyas (Emergency Director, IRC). Key topics included the evolving role of disaster management, the urgent need for climate finance, the potential of national NGOs as agents of change, and lessons learned from previous humanitarian efforts.
Experts emphasized the importance of fostering locally driven, innovative responses to climate challenges. A dynamic Q&A session followed the panel discussion, allowing participants to engage directly with experts and gain further insights.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Pakistan Seed Security Prototype, supported by Unilever and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Inclusive WASH. Habibur Rehman, Regional Climate Change Advisor, presented key features of the initiative, which aims to enhance the resilience of farming communities through green entrepreneurship, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to Pakistan’s national climate commitments.
Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, attended as the Guest of Honor. She stressed the need for comprehensive climate risk management strategies at the national, provincial, and district levels. Emphasizing the integration of disaster risk financing into loss and damage mitigation efforts, she called for innovative financial tools and data-driven strategies to address the escalating costs of climate change. “Collaborative actions today will safeguard communities and ecosystems for a more secure and equitable future,” she stated.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Lubna Javaid, Deputy Director of Programs at IRC Pakistan, highlighted the urgency of investing in gender-equal and inclusive climate resilience programs, particularly for refugees affected by climate-induced displacement. She emphasized the intersection of climate change, poverty, and conflict, urging for accessible climate financing to address humanitarian challenges effectively.
The event fostered meaningful dialogue, encouraging partnerships and actionable strategies to address Pakistan’s unique humanitarian and climate challenges.
