Breathe Pakistan: Ministry official says govt ‘very actively engaged’ with all provinces on climate change

The second edition of The Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, organised by Dawn Media, is currently underway in Islamabad. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations, underscoring the critical need for coordinated, locally grounded, and globally informed responses. The two-day conference brings together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across sectors to examine intersecting challenges and chart a path forward. The first edition of Breathe Pakistan sparked national dialogue and global collaboration around vital climate challenges — from climate justice and finance to renewable energy transitions, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive public-private partnerships. View the full agenda here. 11:22am - Third session begins The next session, titled “Mobilising Climate Finance for Pakistan” has begun. Saleemullah, State Bank of Pakistan’s deputy governor, is addressing as the session chair. 11:15am - NDMA official stresses need for district-level action NDMA official Idrees Mahsud, asked about synergy within the authority and other institutions, pointed out that the PDMAs were now working actively. “Personally, I would like to see a dedicated department assisting the deputy commissioner or the district disaster management authority championing DRR and adaptation measures at the district level,” he added. 11:11am - ‘NDMA working on initiatives to make better mitigation decisions’ Idrees Mahsud . — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Idrees Mahsud highlighted that the NDMA has been working since 2007 on different initiatives, including multi-hazard vulnerability risk assessments, to better make decisions to mitigate the impact of those hazards. He stressed that NDMA’s “prime importance” was building resilient infrastructure and community, along with other interventions. Mahsud highlighted 11:05am - Pakistan doesn’t see adaptation, DRR as ‘very different’ Idrees Mahsud . — White Star/