KP Governor calls for stronger climate preparedness amid mounting risks

Warning that climate extremes are already reshaping daily life across Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged an urgent national push to strengthen preparedness and reduce disaster risks. Addressing a provincial summit in Peshawar, he framed climate action not as a distant aspiration but as essential to safeguarding food systems, the economy and social stability.

A nation on the climate front lines

From erratic monsoon patterns to accelerating glacial melt and recurrent heatwaves, Pakistan sits on the front line of a global climate crisis that is amplifying floods, landslides and droughts. The cascading effects are already evident: disrupted harvests, rising disease burdens, damaged infrastructure and mounting recovery costs that strain provincial and federal budgets. In this context, the Governor emphasized a shift from reactive relief to proactive risk reduction, with planning and investment reaching every district.

Summit zeroes in on readiness and resilience

The Provincial Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, convened by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Governor’s House, brought together climate specialists, academics and officials from relevant departments. Participants examined the growing frequency and intensity of climate shocks and explored how to strengthen early warning systems, community-first response and climate-resilient development.

Documentaries screened during the event showcased PRCS humanitarian operations in recent emergencies, highlighting the lifesaving role of trained volunteers, pre-positioned supplies and strong coordination with local authorities. Speakers underscored that rapid response is essential, but long-term resilience—through risk-aware planning, ecosystem restoration and resilient infrastructure—will determine how communities weather the next crisis.

From commitment to concrete steps

Building on discussions at the summit, priority actions highlighted for Pakistan’s climate-security agenda included:

• Strengthening hazard monitoring and early warning systems, including last-mile alerts tailored to local languages and needs.
• Expanding risk mapping to guide land-use decisions, with special focus on floodplains, glacial lake outburst hazards and urban heat islands.
• Investing in resilient infrastructure—elevated roads and bridges, climate-proofed schools and health facilities, and robust drainage in rapidly growing cities.
• Supporting climate-smart agriculture through drought-tolerant seeds, efficient irrigation and farmer advisory services to stabilize yields and incomes.
• Scaling nature-based solutions such as watershed restoration, mangrove and hill forest protection, and wetland conservation to buffer floods and recharge aquifers.
• Institutionalizing preparedness in local government plans, with dedicated adaptation budgets and regular drills for schools and health centers.
• Embedding climate literacy across curricula and professional training to build a workforce skilled in adaptation and risk management.

The Governor commended PRCS, its staff and supporting partners for their efforts during recent crises, noting that volunteers and frontline workers remain the backbone of effective disaster response. He also called for stronger collaboration among humanitarian organizations, academia, the private sector and government agencies to ensure that research translates into practical solutions on the ground.

Why preparedness cannot wait

As extreme events become more frequent, the cost of inaction rises. Disasters disrupt supply chains, inflate food prices and push vulnerable households into poverty—effects that ripple through the wider economy. Evidence from disaster risk reduction programs worldwide shows that each rupee invested in prevention and preparedness can save many times that amount in avoided losses and faster recovery.

For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan at large, the path forward hinges on early action: building resilience before the next storm, heatwave or flood. The summit’s message was clear—climate and disaster-risk management are now central to national stability and prosperity, and preparedness is the most effective insurance policy a country can hold.

The call from Peshawar is ultimately a call to coordination: align policies across sectors, channel funding to community priorities, and act at the speed climate risks demand. With sustained commitment, Pakistan can shift from recurrent crisis management to durable resilience—protecting lives, livelihoods and the ecosystems that underpin them.