KARACHI: Former federal minister and Water Environment Forum Pakistan chairman Nisar Ahmed Memon has stressed the need for formulating water, food and energy security plans to address the challenge of climate change.

Speaking at a lecture on coastal climate change challenges at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) on Tuesday, he said Pakistan’s contribution in greenhouse gas emission is less than one per cent but it suffers a lot from climate change for which developed countries are responsible.

Referring to the floods of 2010 and 2022, he said the UN rated 2010 floods as ‘greatest humanitarian crisis in the recent history’.

He further said Pakistan ranks 76th in 107 countries on the Global Food Security index and Pakistan’s current water availability is less than 1,100 cubic meters per person.

He said Pakistan’s coastline is spread over 1,000 kms and out of which 250 kms are in Sindh and 750 kms in Balochistan. He said this coastal area is very important for the country especially in terms of its economic development.

“The Indus irrigation system is a large irrigation system in the world, hence it needs attention of the concerned authorities,” Mr Memon said and added that in Sindh natural waterways had been encroached upon and during the floods and heavy rains people faced heavy loss of properties and human lives because of this.

He stressed the need for restoring natural waterways to avert calamities in future.

Talking about Pakistan Vision 2025, he suggested key goals for responding to climate change. In this respect, he called upon authorities to devise water, food and energy security plans with specific reference to climate change challenges.

He said recognition of relevant risks and implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies and promoting long-term sustainability, conservation and protection of natural resources were also needed.

SMIU Vice Chancellor Dr Mujeeb Sahrai said this was the first lecture of a series that the varsity had started.

Published in Dawn, january 4th, 2023