Daily Times

KARACHI: Speakers at the Launching Ceremony of “Climate Public Expenditure Review” organized at a local hotel; stated that budgetary allocations of provincial government are insufficient to tackle the threats of climate change. Pakistan is among the world’s top ten countries vulnerable to climate change and is experiencing adverse impacts.

The ceremony, organized by Pakistan Fisher folk Forum and Oxfam under GROW campaign highlighted the budget analysis of Sindh (2016-17) in particular reference to allocation against climate change adaptation. The study significantly talked about allocation of resources to meet challenges of climate change. It further generated a need to have a climate change budget with a gender lens specifically as women are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

MPA Shafi Muhammad Jamot said that Sindh is more prone to climate change due to its geographical location in Pakistan as compared to the other provinces. The Govt of Sindh, has already announced to establish a new department to handle the issue relating to environment, the coastal development and climate change and it shows that the Sindh government is highly concerned about climate change and its adverse effects. Mr. Jamot acknowledged that GROW campaign has been instrumental in raising the voice of small growers and women farmers. He also assured that efforts will be taken for the adaptation of local plans, protection of mangroves, controlling marine pollution and ensuring fresh water into delta and all will be mitigating the antagonistic impacts of climate change.

Lead Researcher, Aneela Bibi, confirmed that there are 2,773 projects in the development budget, out of which only 941 schemes are related to climate change. She said that total budget estimate was 200,000 Million with only 11,663 Million dedicated for climate change projects. In terms of percentage, only 6% of the total development budget is related to CC, said Ms. Bibi while 15% GDP of Sindh has been affected by climate change alone.

Environmental expert Nasir Panhwer said that agriculture is one of the pillars of Pakistan’s economy and a major livelihood source for rural communities. He said that utmost importance should be given to address the issues facing small farmers by ensuring development projects for rural community’s participation by using solar and wind energy.

PhD in Climate Change Assistant Professor Karachi University Dr. Aamir Alamgeer said that due to change in weather pattern, crop pattern has been also changed. HE said that people cultivate sugarcane and cotton crop instead of wheat and rice as these crops consume less water. “We are suffering not because of climate change but due to our own ill management”, he added.

Chief Mangroves Conservator Mr. Riaz Wagan said that the underline message of the event is that climate change wave has wrapped us all therefore we have to join hands together to mitigate this menace.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah said that Pakistan is on 6th number on the hit list of the vulnerability and insecurity.

He said that small farmers especially women are worst hit by the impacts of climate change. Mr. Shah added that “Local Adaptation Plan of Action” needs to be adopted by government to cope with these issues and make communities resilient to Climate Change.

Government officials, academia and local community participated and endorsed the findings of the study. Participants unanimously agreed that urgent policy measures are needed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in extreme vulnerability.

Director General of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Mr. Naeem Mughal, Additional Sec. Agriculture Department Dr. Baddar Shaikh, Additional Sec. Food Department Dr. Mola Bux Jakhro, Oxfam International Mr. Mustafa Talpur, Oxfam representatives Mr. Zeeshan Ahmed, Mr. Asim Saqlain and PFF team Mr. Mustafa Mirani, Mr. Jamil Junejo and Mr Afzal Shaikh also spoke on the occasion.