LAHORE: Climate change is no longer merely an environmental challenge, but a full-blown crisis for the public health and women’s security, demanding gender-responsive policy action at national and provincial levels, speakers warned at a round-table moot on Wednesday.
The National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organised a round-table discussion on “Climate change study and action plan” to deliberate on the growing impact of climate change on women and girls, with a particular focus on general health, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), gender-based violence (GBV) and humanitarian vulnerabilities.
Welcoming the participants, NIPP Dean Dr Naveed Elahi appreciated the UNFPA for undertaking the important study, “Drought & Deluge: The Silent Sufferings of Women and Girls in Climate Change,” and for bringing its findings and proposed action plan to the policy community for discussion.
Dr Elahi emphasised that climate change is no longer merely an environmental challenge, but has far-reaching implications for public health, human development, social protection and the well-being of vulnerable communities. He underscored the importance of evidence-based policy making and called for stronger coordination among policy practitioners, development partners, researchers and other stakeholders to translate research findings into practical policy interventions.
The moot drew upon the findings of the UNFPA study, which examines the intersection of climate change and women’s general health, sexual and reproductive health and gender-based vulnerabilities.
Participants also discussed the action plan and explored measures required to translate its recommendations into meaningful action at the national and provincial levels.
Dr Rafi, the co-researcher of the study presented it on behalf of UNFPA.
Representing UNFPA, Humanitarian Analyst Dr Rashid discussed humanitarian dimensions of climate-induced disasters and their implications for vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls.
He highlighted the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive approaches into disaster preparedness, humanitarian response and climate resilience planning.
Ms Saida Inayat, representing UNFPA, speaking on gender-based violence (GBV), highlighting the heightened vulnerabilities of women and girls during climate-related emergencies and displacement.
The discussion emphasised the need to integrate GBV prevention and response mechanisms into climate adaptation and disaster-management frameworks.
Ms Hasna, from UNFPA Lahore, presented the ground realities regarding the impact of climate change.
Health Special Secretary Abdur Razzak, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Saif Jappa, Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Dr Tayyeba Wasim and other senior officials and stakeholders from relevant government departments also shared the perspectives of the health and disaster-management sectors.
Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026
