Pakistan stands on the front lines of the global climate crisis, with recent disasters highlighting the scale and urgency of the challenge. In the devastating floods of 2022 alone, 33 million people were affected and the country’s economy suffered more than $30 billion in damages.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, addressed a seminar organized by the National Disaster Risk Management Fund, emphasizing the critical need for Pakistan to move beyond relying solely on emergency relief. He called for a shift toward proactive preparedness, the development of sustainable systems, and the adoption of practical measures such as disaster risk financing.
The minister highlighted that under the “Uraan Pakistan” vision, disaster risk financing has become a top priority, aiming to ensure the country is financially equipped to manage natural disasters. Professor Iqbal warned that Pakistan’s glaciers are among the most threatened in the world—an issue underscored by the United Nations’ decision to designate 2025 as the “Year of Glacier Protection.” He stressed that financial readiness to address risks like glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) must now be treated as a national priority.
Disaster risk financing, he said, is not simply a technical option but an urgent national necessity. By prioritizing such measures, Pakistan can better protect its people, safeguard economic stability, and demonstrate its commitment to resilience and sustainability on the global stage.
