ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s efforts to address the devastating impacts of climate change and rebuild flood-affected areas have gained momentum and since the launch of the Resilience, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (4RF) framework by the Planning Ministry, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved 21 development projects worth $3 billion.
These projects aim at supporting the areas affected by last year floods and rains, which impacted 33 million people and caused economic losses well over $30 billion.
The 4RF framework, devised by the government, emphasizes effective coordination among federal and provincial governments, development partners, NGOs, and private sectors. In January, Pakistan secured pledges of $10 billion from donors during an international conference on ‘Climate Resilient Pakistan’ held in Geneva. Building on this support, the CDWP has now approved various projects, including flood assistance, clean energy access, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and agriculture enhancement.
The projects, funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Islamic Development Bank, cover a wide range of sectors and provinces. They include initiatives such as farm water management, infrastructure development, livelihood enhancement, and healthcare support. To ensure effective implementation and monitoring, the Federal Steering Committee (FSC) has been established, and regular meetings have been held to track progress.
In an effort to enhance transparency, a real-time monitoring dashboard for the 4RF projects will be operational by November 10. This will provide up-to-date information to the public and development partners regarding the execution of projects in the flood-affected areas. Pakistan’s commitment to addressing climate change and its vulnerability to climatic disasters have been recognized by the World Bank, which has expressed appreciation for the country’s efforts and pledged continued support.
Despite being responsible for less than 1% of global carbon emissions, Pakistan faces significant challenges from climate change, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, and melting glaciers. The approval and implementation of these development projects demonstrate Pakistan’s determination to build resilience, promote recovery, and ensure the well-being of its people in the face of these climate-related threats.
