The government of Pakistan, in collaboration with UN-Habitat Pakistan, has launched a consultative process for the country’s first-ever National Urban Strategy aimed at developing climate-resilient cities and addressing growing urban vulnerabilities linked to climate change.
The process was initiated during a high-level national workshop jointly organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and UN-Habitat Pakistan on Sunday.
The workshop brought together federal and provincial officials, disaster management authorities, urban planners, development experts and representatives of international organisations to formulate a coordinated framework for sustainable urban development.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Humera Moriani said that Pakistan’s urban growth was accelerating while cities remained increasingly exposed to climate-related risks.
She said that rising temperatures, urban flooding, water shortages and unregulated construction had intensified pressure on urban infrastructure and public services. “Our cities are becoming urban heat islands, flood traps and water-stressed zones because climate risks were never integrated into the way we planned and governed them,” she remarked.
The Secretary noted that over 36 per cent of Pakistan’s population currently lived in urban areas and projected that more than half the population would reside in cities within the next two decades.
Referring to recurring flooding incidents in areas such as Rawalpindi’s Nullah Lai and Nowshera, she highlighted the impact of encroachments, weak waste management systems and outdated drainage infrastructure.
She said that the proposed National Urban Strategy would align with the National Climate Change Policy 2021, National Adaptation Plan 2023 and Pakistan’s commitments under the Paris climate agreement.
Senior Joint Secretary Muhammad Ijaz Ghani said recent climate disasters had exposed weaknesses in urban governance and planning mechanisms.
Recalling the Swat River floods, he said that construction on natural floodplains without proper zoning safeguards had aggravated the impacts of flooding.
Referring to repeated flooding incidents in Islamabad’s Sector E-11 and the DHA underpass drowning incident, he stressed the need for climate-resilient drainage systems and improved hydraulic planning in housing schemes. He also noted that Karachi’s drainage infrastructure was struggling to cope with increasing rainfall intensity during monsoon seasons.
The officials informed the workshop that the forthcoming strategy would focus on riverine zoning regulations, climate-sensitive spatial planning and stronger building standards.
UN-Habitat Pakistan climate expert Khalil Ahmed said that Pakistan’s urban areas were facing increasing risks from floods, heatwaves, droughts and infrastructure failures due to rapid urbanization and weak enforcement of environmental regulations. He observed that Pakistan’s climate risk profile was shifting towards “compound, cascading and systemic climate crises,” placing additional pressure on infrastructure, water resources and healthcare systems.
Khalil Ahmed said that the consultation process aimed to identify priority urban risks, integrate climate resilience into planning frameworks, promote Green Building Codes and strengthen environmental assessment mechanisms.
Deputy Director Media and Communications at the Climate Ministry Muhammad Saleem Shaikh emphasized the role of public awareness and community engagement in implementing climate-resilient urban policies.
Urban Affairs Director Muhammad Azim Khoso stressed the need for implementing Pakistan Green Building Codes 2023 to promote environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure.
Participants at the workshop also highlighted the growing pressure on Pakistan’s infrastructure, healthcare, energy and water systems due to recurring climate shocks and extreme weather events.