Sindh, Centre to launch 300-day Climate Action Plan

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Malik, have agreed to launch a 300-day Climate Action Plan ahead of the monsoon season. The plan will focus on increasing the capacity of the Sukkur Barrage, strengthening the weak embankments of the Indus River, and restoring natural water pathways to prevent the loss of lives and property during riverine and rain-induced floods.

The meeting took place at the CM's House on Monday. It was decided that the upcoming monsoon, expected to begin 15 days earlier than usual, calls for the immediate preparation of a 300-day climate action plan. Under this plan, all four provincial governments will submit their proposals and essential projects. The meeting reached consensus on strengthening the carbon credit market. Dr Musadik Malik assured full support from the federal government to help provinces participate in the carbon credit system. The Sindh CM said that the province has already initiated work in carbon credit marketing, but it now needs to be expanded further.

The CM also raised concerns about poor condition of some river embankments along the Indus. He shared that Japan is assisting Sindh in reinforcing these embankments - particularly the KK Bund and Qadirpur-Shahnik Bund - and hoped these projects would soon become operational.

He underscored the need to revive old natural water routes to manage future monsoon flooding more effectively. CM Murad pointed out that after the construction of barrages in the 1930s, riverine areas emerged, disrupting natural water flow. Sindh currently has 14 canals, and natural drainage must be restored on both the right and left banks of the Indus River.

Murad appealed to the federal government for support in expanding the Sukkur Barrage's capacity. In response, Dr Malik assured full cooperation and reiterated that international assistance is critical for combating the effects of climate change.