By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Wednesday said the present government was working on reviving the riverine ecology in the dying Indus Delta which was imperative for national survival amid increasing climate change impacts. Addressing a day-long National Climate Change Conference on “Climate Action & Adaptation: Way Forward for an Ecologically Sustainable Pakistan” organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), the SAPM said it was a very timely topic as Pakistan at the forefront of climate change and among top 10 countries affected due to climate change, adding, “We are also part of the continuously affected top three countries list along with Haiti and Philippines which is not a good merit”.
Amin said the Ministry of Climate Change was working to prepare a strategic short, medium and long term adaptation plan. However, the prime minister has directed him to start focussing on riverine ecology, he added. “River Indus has sustained civilizations for over past 5,000 years but it has become questionable that will it sustain for another 50 years,” he underlined. The highest forum level approval from the prime minister was received for “Living Rivers Initiative” along with all chief ministers on board to revive the dying ecology of Indus River, he told. “It will be a nature based solution including wetlands, riverine forests, local communities and we have 4-month timeline to work out a comprehensive framework for project execution,” Amin said.
The SAPM mentioned that the multilateral environmental partners were also excited to chip in the endeavor as it was necessary to identify gaps and then manage funding accordingly. “Our future existence depends on this ecology and how this ecology adapts to climate change is important.
