A panel of experts and policymakers on Tuesday highlighted an urgent need to embed climate resilience across all phases of urban development — from policy formulation and project design to financing and implementation.
These remarks were made during a workshop organised by the Planning and Development Board in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Punjab Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit. The event brought together government officials, urban development experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies for integrating climate resilience into urban planning across the province. The workshop chaired by Punjab Planning and Development Board Chief Economist Masoud Anwar featured presentations by urban resilience specialist Nadeem Khurshid and financing for development specialist Awais Asim.
Anwar emphasised the importance of mainstreaming climate resilience throughout the urban development process. He said the session was aimed to identify gaps and challenges in making urban development policies climate-smart and resilient.
"Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and we must ensure that environmental concerns are central to the design of development projects," he added.
He also underscored the need to adopt innovative financing mechanisms, including global funds, green bonds and carbon credits, to advance the province's climate agenda.
Chief Economist Masoud Anwar urged all departments to pursue climate financing opportunities and build institutional capacity for climate-resilient planning and implementation.
Urban resilience specialist Nadeem Khurshid highlighted international best practices in climate-resilient urban development, noting that global models offer valuable insights that can be adapted to Punjab's unique context.
He stressed the importance of long-term sustainability and enhanced urban resilience.
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