L-R: Dr. Mazhar Hayat, Deputy Secretary - Climate Change, Ms. Sameera Sheikh, Joint Secretary -Environment/Climate change, Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhary, Secretary, MoCC&EC, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD, His Excellency Abrar H. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Dr. Faisal Mueen Qamer, River Basins Lead at ICIMOD. Photo: MoCC&EC

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), Government of Pakistan have signed an Agreement of Cooperation to implement the Sustainable Actions for Ecosystems Restoration project in Pakistan (SAFER-Pakistan) project funded by the Adaptation Fund. The agreement was signed by Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD, and Ms. Aisha Humera Chaudhary, Secretary of the MoCC&EC to formally initiate implementation of the project. The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Abrar H. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Ms. Sameera Sheikh, Joint Secretary – Environment/Climate change, Dr. Mazhar Hayat, Deputy Secretary – Climate Change, and Dr. Faisal Mueen Qamer, River Basins Lead at ICIMOD.

The inception meeting for SAFER Pakistan Project is scheduled for September 2025.

During the discussions, Secretary Chaudhary acknowledged ICIMOD’s contribution to regional assessments and commended its solution-oriented projects and partnership with national governments to address climate and environmental risks.

Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-impacted countries, consistently ranks high on German Watch’s Long-Term Climate Risk Index. The country faces recurrent climate-induced disasters, including heatwaves, droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Enhancing adaptive capacity, resilience, and reducing vulnerability against these shocks are high priority, particularly in the Indus River, which is central to Pakistan’s water and economic security.

The SAFER Pakistan project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of communities living in the Indus Basin by addressing six critical adaptation challenges in the basin:

• Cryosphere Risk – Early warning systems for glacier hazards.
• Springshed Management – Restoring springs for local water access.
• Groundwater & Supply – Aquifer recharge and solar water systems.
• Ecosystem Adaptation – Wetlands for wastewater and resilience.
• Surface Water Conservation – Rehabilitating ponds and waterways.
• Community Capacity and Scaling – Policies, trainings, and leadership for adaptation

The project will enhance both community and institutional capacity across these areas through integrated water and ecosystem management approaches. The project will be jointly implemented with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan, and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality & the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Pakistan.

The meeting also included discussions on ICIMOD’s support for Pakistan’s engagement in COP30, including co-hosting joint sessions and enhancing Pakistan’s negotiation capacity under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.

Following the signing, Dr. Gyamtsho, paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal. During the meeting, he briefed the Minister on ICIMOD’s regional mandate and its ongoing work in Pakistan. The Minister welcomed the collaboration and engaged in a thoughtful exchange on climate risks, solutions, and the lessons learned from past interventions. She also underscored the importance of ICIMOD’s strategy for scaling impact and sustaining outcomes across the region.

Faisal Mueen Qamer

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