ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani has expressed concern that despite being among the most climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan has received less than one billion dollars in climate financing over the past three decades, terming as insufficient the current global commitments in this regard. “The climate finance must be fair, predictable and timely, ” he said, speaking at the “Breathe Pakistan” climate change moot here on Thursday. The chairman Senate said that the pledged amount of $300 billion annually by the developed countries to help the developing countries deal with the challenges of climate change “still falls short of the actual needs of vulnerable countries. ” Gilani said “The Loss and Damage Fund should be treated as a matter of justice rather than charity. ” He said climate resilience efforts must directly benefit farmers and vulnerable communities. The chairman Senate called for stronger coordination among Parliament, government institutions, academia, media, civil society and the private sector, supported by improved data, effective planning and increased investment in climate adaptation. Gilani said climate change poses a serious multidimensional threat impacting food security, water resources, agriculture, economic stability and human survival. He stressed that peace, stability and international cooperation are essential to ensure meaningful climate action. The Senate chief also called for enhanced regional cooperation in glacier preservation, water management and early warning systems. Speaking at the moot, Ellen Mpangananji Thom, the Deputy Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Pakistan, said that climate-driven malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress are estimated to result in five million deaths between 2030 and 2050. “The WHO estimates that between 2030 and 2050, we would register five million additional deaths worldwide, and that translates to 250, 000 per year, ” she said. “Each one of us as individuals has the vital role and responsibility to protect our health by being informed and following simple recommendations, such as wearing masks during pollution episodes, reducing our exposure to heat, and preventing mosquito bites, ” said the WHO official. Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi called for serious efforts on climate change, asserting that his provincial government was doing so already. “We are absorbing more carbon than we are producing, ” he said, adding that KP could earn up to 100 billion rupees annually through carbon credits. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, stressed the need for a regional solution to the challenges posed by climate change. “This region is suffering. Our children are suffering. We are not in a state of crisis. We are in a state of war from climate change, ” she said. “The developing countries’ people are resilient nations. If you talk about Pakistan, we have proved in the floods that we are not looking for aid; we are looking for trade because this is not something we created, ” Alam said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Climate financing: Pakistan receive less than 1bn USD: Senate chief
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