ICIMOD Delegation makes a courtesy call to Finance Minister of Pakistan (Courtesy: PTV News)

An ICIMOD delegation comprising Director GeneralDr David Molden, Director of Strategic CooperationBasanta Raj Shrestha, and Head of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and EvaluationFarid Ahmad visited Pakistan from 18-19 April 2016 to hold strategic meetings with national partners. Country representative of ICIMOD-Pakistan Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra joined the team to make a presentation before senior members of the Pakistan government, including Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, State Minister and Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon and top government officials. During the presentation, Dr Molden explained that ICIMOD is a regional organization that provides technical assistance and knowledge on climate issues to its eight member countries in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region including Pakistan. He also highlighted ICIMOD’s aim “to assist mountain people to understand the challenge of climate change, local adaptation strategies and new possible income generation opportunities while addressing upstream-downstream linkages.”

Finance Minister Mr Ishaq Dar said that the government would accord due importance to environmental protection and that Pakistan would contribute to global debate on climate change. He expressed appreciation for ICIMOD’s efforts and asked the organization to co-ordinate with concerned ministries to implement its R&D programme in Pakistan. The meeting was also attended by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne, who applauded ICIMOD’s role in generating knowledge of mountains in the HKH region.

In Islamabad, the ICIMOD delegation held strategic meetings with senior officials of various ministries as well as representatives of the UN, USAID and Australian High Commission, among others.

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