Breathe Pakistan: Minister Musadik Malik calls for investing in youth-led climate projects

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.

3:26pm — Panellist warns against working on ‘ad hoc’ policies

The director for water, food & ecosystems at International Water Management Institute, Dr Mohsin Hafeez, warned against working on “ad hoc policies” and pointed out the need for “greater planning” or developing relevant tools.

He called for moving beyond short-term planning and steering policy towards “scientific approaches or evidence-based approaches”.

3:19pm — Hisaar Foundation head calls for local govts

“Build no more heavy infrastructure, go for nature-based solutions,” suggests Simi Kamal, chairperson of Hisaar Foundation.

Kamal called for a functioning local government, saying that the water issues would not be addressed until one was formed.

She noted that there was a “plethora of institutions”, with an institutional disconnect that needed to be fixed.

“It is the time to think locally and act globally,” she contended, calling for preserving the country’s water bodies.

3:13pm — Panel talk on Indus Basin begins

Mirey Atallah, head of adaptation and resilience at the United Nations Environment Programme, at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad A panel talk, titled “The Indus Basin: Sustainable Governance or Ad Hoc Responses?” has begun.

Mirey Atallah, head of adaptation and resilience at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is moderating the panel.

3:05pm — Researcher presents findings from glacier study project

Glaciologist Dr Davide Fugazza speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad Dr Davide Fugazza, a glaciologist and a faculty member at the University of Milan, is giving a presentation on a research project done on glaciers.

He spoke about the phenomenon of “Karakoram Anomaly”, adding that even if the glacier area was still, they might be losing glacier mass.

“I personally visited these glaciers last year […] and we’re going again this year. We are performing investigations using satellite data to really look at the […] debris and identify the mineralogical properties and what it means for the glacial melt,” he said.

2:58pm — Cannot escape responsibility by evading it today: Erum Sattar

Sattar, speaking at the panel, highlighted the need for action to ensure the conservation of the Indus Delta.

“The Indus River has sustained civilisations for thousands of years, and what happens next will be determined by the choices Pakistan makes,” she asserted.

She further said that Pakistan cannot “escape responsibility” for the Indus River by “evading it today”. Sattar contended that political will and moral courage were required to tackle the issue.

2:53pm — What is ‘ethical leverage’ and why Pakistan can claim it

Dr Erum Sattar speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — screengrab Dr Erum Sattar shed light on the concept of “ethical leverage” in climate diplomacy, explaining that it meant “the strategic power that accrues to a nation when it bears a legitimate moral claim with a demonstrated governance competence”.

She asserted that Pakistan has “one of the most legitimate moral claims” as it contributed even less than one per cent of global emissions but still absorbed some of the “worst storms”.

2:47pm — Water expert warns Indus Delta is shrinking

Dr Erum Sattar further noted that the Indus Delta, which she said was “once one of the most productive ecosystems”, is now “shrinking” and its fisheries “collapsing”.

“An estimated 50 million people in Sindh alone have livelihoods that depend on the way the river functions,” she noted.

Sattar observed that in a world with fracturing global supply chains and climate disruptions impacting harvests, every drop of water saved and every unit of food grown efficiently was part of “national security”.

2:38pm — Indus basin being squeezed: Erum Sattar

Dr Erum Sattar speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad Dr Erum Sattar, a water law and policy expert, noted that the Indus Basin was being squeezed “by climate change from above, from north by glacial disruption, from east by an extremely revisionist neighbour and from within a governance system that is designed for a much more stable world”.

She pointed out that the Indus river irrigates about 90pc of Pakistan’s food production, yet half of all irrigation water no longer comes from the river but from aquifers.

“We are quite literally mining the water beneath our feet.”

2:26pm — Water management no longer optional but a necessity: minister

Water Resources Minister Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo highlighted the need for efficient water usage, stressing that the country cannot afford wastage.

Noting that the agriculture sector consumed the largest share of the country’s water, he said the ministry was focusing on efficient use.

“Better irrigation practices [..] and rational water management are no longer optional but necessary,” he added.

“Water must be an area of discipline, not dispute,” he said, highlighting that the water issue was about national food security and economic stability.

“Above all, we must keep the people at the centre, the farmers, the villagers, the communities,” he said, adding that the Indus basin would require “careful management, strong institutions and consistent policy direction” for long-term sustainment.

2:20pm — Pakistan’s ‘lifeline’ Indus River basin under pressure: water minister

Water Resources Minister Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad In his chairperson address, Water Resources Minister Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo emphasised the importance of the Indus River basin for Pakistan’s agriculture and the livelihoods of the people.

“If it is secure, Pakistan is secure. But today, that lifeline is under pressure,” he said, pointing out that the behaviour of glaciers in the north was “no longer predictable”.

“Downstream, the Indus delta is shrinking, sea intrusion is advancing, communities that once thrived are now at risk,” Wattoo said.

2:15pm — Fourth session begins

The day’s fourth discussion, titled “From Glacial Melt to Delta Discharge”, is now underway.

1:25pm — ADB official notes lack of ‘concessional finance’

Speaking on climate financing, Anouj Mehta, an adviser at the Asian Development Bank, said there was an absence of the “amount of concessional finance that we would like to have to make a lot of things work”.

He also highlighted the issue of affordability, asking whether green bonds could be made more affordable. He cited Thailand and Uruguay’s bonds as examples.

The ADB official said there were two approaches: instruments that can raise money from outside sources and developing projects. “And the last part of that is institutions which can implement projects’ will,” Mehta added.

1:18pm — Climate minister calls for investment in youth-led projects

The climate minister called on investors to fund youth-led climate projects.

“Come to the table, listen to these guys, and if it makes sense, give them money,” Musadik Malik said, stressing the need for investing in youth.

He stressed that the solutions had to “come from the youth and for the youth”.

1:02pm — Conversations do not save people, something real has to happen: Musadik Malik

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad In his closing remarks of the session, minister Musadik Malik asserted that the gap between what we are talking about and the reality” needs to be acknowledged.

“Conversations do not save people. Conversations do not improve air quality. Something real has to happen between all of these billions and billions of dollars of conversations and the reality that I’m struck with when I go to Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.

WATCH: A glimpse into this year’s Breathe Pakistan conference

12:58pm — Banker Zafar Masud calls for ‘climate emergency’ to be declared

Zafar Masud called for a climate emergency to be declared, “not just as a policy statement but as an action”.

He asserted that this was the right time as there was a “feel-good factor” in the international community, underscoring the need to grab the opportunity.

He further proposed the “radical idea” of having a climate-specialised bank.

12:51pm — Climate repercussions do not have any borders: Zafar Masud

Pakistan Banks Association Chairman Zafar Masud speaks at a panel at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/ Tanveer Shahzad Pakistan Banks Association Chairman Zafar Masud has pointed out that “climate repercussions do not have any borders”, calling for “collective work” to address them.

He also noted that there was no lack of funding “both locally and internally”; however, it was an issue of “mindset and awareness”. He held that people need to be made aware of how climate change can impact them directly.

Masud, also the Bank of Punjab CEO, further wondered why “we are so averse to the idea of not asking for support from the federal government”.

12:40pm — ADB official says $50bn allocated for ‘regional Asian grid’

ADB Principal Project Officer Shauzab Ali speaks at a panel at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad ADB Principal Project Officer Shauzab Ali said ADB has allocated about $50bn for a “regional Asian grid” and another $20bn for transformation in the same project.

He highlighted the need to simultaneously work with all stakeholders, including on how to improve the air quality. He also underscored the importance of having “the right kind of data”.

“We will be providing technical assistance and grant facilities to all stakeholders who can actually bring things to fruition,” Ali affirmed.

12:33pm — AIIB official highlights challenges for developing countries in accessing climate financing

Dr Murtaza Syed of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Dr Murtaza Syed of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank noted that fiscal risks and macroeconomic vulnerability make it “very difficult” for developing countries to access climate finance.

“We don’t have enough financing going for emerging markets and developing economies, and yet the global fight against climate change cannot be won without these countries on board.”

He contended that countries like Pakistan could not rely solely on external financing to mobilise the needed funds.

12:26pm — Green Climate Fund official stresses importance of coordination

Alain Beauvillard addresses the Breathe Pakistan conference via video link. — White Star/Muhammad Asim Alain Beauvillard, director of Department of Strategy, Policy, and Innovation at Green Climate Fund (GCF), stressed the need for coordination.

“You need to be able to coordinate them (different players) around the pipeline that you want to push in your country,” he said.

12:14pm — Panel talk on climate finance begins

Anam Rathor at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Muhammad Asim A panel discussion, titled “From Pipelines to Capital: Delivering Climate Finance at Scale”, has begun.

Anam Rathor, programme lead for Pakistan at CVF-V20, is moderating the panel.

12:07pm — ‘Plans should not end up collecting dust, but cheques’: Hamza Ali Haroon

Hamza Ali Haroon, regional director for South and West Asia at CVF-V20 Secretariat, delivering an online address at the conference, said that Pakistan’s climate plans must not “end up collecting dust, but rather cheques”.

“Let me be candid here, we are experts at making plans, and carefully designed plans,” he said; however, he maintained that they must focus on mobilising capital and must deliver.

11:58am — Intensity of 2025 floods ‘much larger’ but govt deemed int’l aid not needed: Aurangzeb

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb addresses the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Muhammad Asim Speaking about what his ministry could do regarding climate change, Aurangzeb underscored the importance of macroeconomic stability, terming it as necessary as “basic hygiene”.

He mentioned the disastrous floods of 2022, as well as 2025, adding that “this time around, the intensity was much larger” as three rivers and almost the entire country were facing floods.

The minister noted that despite demands to seek international funding, the government decided not to, as it deemed there was “fiscal buffer and fiscal space available”.

“Let’s first use the funds which are available now and put them to good and effective use,” he said.

11:50am — Aurangzeb warns against climate change ‘remaining academic discussion’

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb addresses the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stressed the need for all ministries to work together and bring the climate change discourse “into the mainstream”, otherwise it would “remain an academic discussion”.

“It is quite clear that we have to work very closely with our counterparts, ministers of climate change, planning ministry, we need to take a whole of government approach,” the finance minister said.

He asserted that Pakistan was now in a “very very good place”, hailing the NDMA’s work and highlighting that “AI-led early warning systems” were in place.

The minister noted that the country now had “very scientific data” available about what actions were ought to be taken.

11:42am — World Bank official explains climate financing

Adeel Abbas, Senior Climate Change Specialist (Regional Climate Lead) at World Bank Group speaks at the Breathe Pakistan conference. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Adeel Abbas, senior climate change specialist (Regional Climate Lead) at World Bank Group, presented global statistics on climate financing.

He noted that combatting climate change was a collective responsibility, stressing the need to bridge the “huge financing gap”.

Explaining what climate financing comprises, Abbas noted the “innovative instrument” of using revenues from carbon finance.

“While we say $6.3bn are required for climate, we know that there are more than $28 trillion invested last year in long-term structure financing. So those resources are there in the global economy,” he noted.

11:30am — Over $550m needed for ‘very ambitious plan’ to reduce emissions by 50pc: SBP official

State Bank of Pakistan Deputy Governor Saleemullah addressing the conference. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad SBP’s Saleemullah highlighted that heatwaves in Pakistan were intensifying, with temperatures above 50°C no longer being a rare event.

He noted that while the losses from the 2025 floods remained “relatively contained”, they displaced millions and caused great disturbance and losses.

He noted that Pakistan’s aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50pc was a “very ambitious plan” that requires financing to the tune of more than $550m.

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.

11:05am — Pakistan doesn’t see adaptation, DRR as ‘very different’

Idrees Mahsud . — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Idrees Mahsud, member of the National Disaster Management Authority’s Disaster Risk Reduction unit, said Pakistan did not see “climate change adaptation and disaster-risk reduction as very much different”.

He said climate change adaptation “is actually disaster-risk reduction, mostly against hydrometeorological” hazards, adding that DRR, on the other hand, could be broader.

11:00am — Govt ‘very actively engaged’ with all provinces: official

Aisha Humera Chaudhry. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Speaking during the session, Aisha Humera Chaudhry, secretary of the climate change ministry, said climate challenges have “forced us to choose between” disaster-risk reduction and adaptation.

She stated that adaptation has more than 170 actions, adding that the government was “very actively engaged” with all the provinces.

Chaudhry said district adaptation plans were the “main building blocks”, noting they included hazard mapping, which was important for disaster-risk reduction.

The official affirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was “regularly taking stock” of the steps, commending the level of seriousness of the leadership.

“Adaptation is an area where Pakistan is very seriously working,” she asserted.

10:52am — Climate change leading to ‘long-term developmental challenges’

Coco Ushiyama. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Coco Ushiyama, country representative for the World Food Programme in Pakistan, noted that climate change was transforming disasters from emergencies to long-term developmental challenges.

“Adaptation and disaster-risk reduction need to come together, not just in theory but in practice,” she stressed, adding that much of the climate-related finance was “reactive”, mobilised after disaster struck.

Ushiyama also underscored the importance of governance and strengthened inter-ministerial coordination.

10:47am — Second session begins

Today’s second session, titled “Synergies Between Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction”, has begun.

10:38am — Youth can find the solution, says climate change minister

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Speaking further, Musadik Malik noted that about two-thirds of Pakistan’s population comprised the youth.

He lauded the good education provided by several universities across Pakistan.

“It is their air. They are breathing; they will find the solution,” he said, contending that the youth could find innovative solutions to climate change.

“And what if they fail?” he added. The minister also floated the idea of a “green university” for conducting research in collaboration with Italian experts.

10:25am — Musadik Malik highlights impact of global emissions

Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad Speaking on the impact of air pollution on life expectancy, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik highlighted that Pakistan did not even contribute 1pc to global carbon dioxide emissions.

He further pointed out that 10 countries produced about 78pc of the global emissions, quipping that those facing the impact of climate change in Gilgit-Baltistan were not the ones responsible for it.

“Is this about rights or justice or political will, and even our political will, not just international?” he wondered.

10:17am — UN official says cost to build resilience is growing

Mohamed Yahya, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzed Mohamed Yahya, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan, has said that the cost to build resilience is growing and financing is “nowhere to be seen”.

He said that in the global debate, there was a tendency to frame countries like Pakistan as “victims of climate change”. He said that while it was true, Pakistan was also a “test case for solutions”.

“If progress is to be accelerated, especially in a country like Pakistan, it will send a powerful signal to the world,” he said.

10:14am — UN official says execution is major challenge to tackling climate challenge

Mohamed Yahya, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan, in his keynote address, said that Pakistan has witnessed constant floods that cost billions of dollars. He said that the losses every year were probably equal to the IMF programme. He also pointed to the high temperature in Karachi on Monday.

“The constraints and the challenges overall is one of execution … we are seeing very little implementation,” he said.

10:05am — World Bank official recognises Pakistan’s efforts to tackle climate change

S. Adeel Abbas, the regional climate lead at the World Bank Group. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad S. Adeel Abbas, the regional climate lead at the World Bank Group, has acknowledged the government’s commitment and policy toward tackling climate change.

“I work on 24 countries in the region on climate change. I think Pakistan is among one of those countries that have set the agenda right,” he said, calling for moving toward action.

He said that the World Bank was supporting various climate projects in Pakistan.

9:56am — Sherry Rehman asks why the cost of conflict is not being counted

“Why is the cost of conflict not being counted? That carbon footprint is missing,” PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said. She said that geopolitics was “devouring the future”.

9:53am — PPP Senator Sherry Rehman says conflicts are costing the environment

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that “conflicts are costing the environment much more than we know, compute or understand”. She said that there were more than 60 active conflicts in the world.

She also said that data on this was missing. She also said that there was very little discussion on the impact of these wars on the environment.

9:50am — PPP Senator Sherry Rehman highlights gap between action and ambition

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman. — White Star/Tanveer Shahzad PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, in her keynote address, said, “All state climate action … there is a splintered, fragmented movement”.

“While the global crisis is staggering, what is equally devastating is the state of the global movement itself. It is defunded and derided,” she said.

“Pakistan must place far greater emphasis on adaptation,” she said, adding that this was not enough.

“At the global level, climate finance must be rebalanced to reflect the reality on the ground, not just global ambition. Adaptation needs to sit alongside mitigation, not behind it,” she said.

“At the same time, we must be disciplined in how we manage the energy transition. We need to scale renewables without constraining growth, invest in modernising our grid, and ensure that transition financing supports development rather than creating unsustainable debt burdens,” she said.

“Governments provide policy direction and frameworks. The private sector drives investment, innovation, and execution. Communities bring lived experience and accountability. Media plays a critical role in informing the public, shaping discourse, and holding all stakeholders accountable. Real progress depends on aligning these roles into a coherent whole,” she said.

“For Pakistan, this urgency is immediate, and it sits alongside deep economic and development pressures that are already shaping national priorities. Decisions made today on energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and urbanisation will define not just our climate resilience, but the direction of our economic future,” she said.

“Behind every statistic showing up on our screens are real lives. Farmers are losing entire harvests, families are forced to leave their homes, children are growing up in hazardous air, and communities are rebuilding after each disaster only to face the next one,” she said.

She said that climate change was not just an environmental crisis.

“It is a threat to Pakistan’s economic stability, public health, and the country’s development trajectory. And the burden is not shared equally,” she said.

“When we first convened this platform in 2025, we did so with a clear belief that climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is not a conversation for tomorrow. It is a lived reality for Pakistan, for South Asia, and for millions across the globe. Today, as we gather again, that reality has only intensified,” she said.

9:34am — 2-day conference begins

The two-day conference has officially begun. It is being held at the Sheesh Mahal Hall of Serena Hotel, Islamabad. The conference began with the national anthem and the recitation of the Holy Quran.