Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, urged immediate steps on climate resilience during a Pakistan Business Council panel titled “Climate Resilience: Who Pays the Price for Delay?” The session brought together business and development leaders to examine the human, economic and environmental toll of delayed action.
The minister underlined the scale of recent climate shocks in Pakistan, noting that about 4,700 lives were lost in the last four major floods, nearly 18,000 people were injured or permanently disabled, and more than 3 million citizens were displaced. He warned that the cost of these disasters extends beyond budgets and damages, encompassing disability, death, interrupted education and the erosion of livelihoods and social stability.
Dr. Malik said Pakistan loses roughly 9.5% of its GDP every year to floods when direct damages and indirect economic disruptions are combined. He emphasised that building climate resilience requires both domestic reforms and stronger international support to finance adaptation and recovery for vulnerable communities.
Highlighting Pakistan’s geographic vulnerabilities, the minister pointed to the country’s position at the foothills of the Himalayas and accelerating glacial melt that is shifting rainfall patterns and altering river and canal flows. He cautioned that these changes will significantly compromise food security unless urgent measures are taken to strengthen water and agricultural resilience.
On global equity, Dr. Malik stressed that Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions while two neighbouring countries account for nearly 40% and ten countries are responsible for more than 70% of emissions. He used this disparity to press for fairer climate finance and faster international cooperation to safeguard Pakistan’s future.
The panel also featured Mr. Sam Waldock, Development Director at the British High Commission, and Mr. Syed Jamal Baquar, CEO of TPL REIT Management Company, who joined calls for coordinated public and private action to boost climate resilience across Pakistan’s most exposed regions.
