Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Meets UN Resident Coordinator; Discusses Flood Devastation and Climate Challenges

Independent Report
Islamabad, Sep. 10,
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, held a meeting with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Mr. Mohamed Yahya, to review the ongoing flood situation in Punjab and explore avenues for cooperation.

Mr. Yahya expressed deep sympathy over the loss of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure caused by the recent floods.

Highlighting the scale of destruction, the Minister said that swelling waters of the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers had inundated vast tracts of land. “Floods in Punjab have impacted hundreds of thousands of acres. In Narowal alone, large areas have been submerged, causing immense damage to farmland, infrastructure, and livestock,” he noted.

Recalling the valuable assistance provided by the UN in past disasters, Prof. Iqbal said, “The government is currently assessing the scale of losses. Together with the United Nations, we will undertake a comprehensive assessment of damages and immediate needs. While the government will begin reconstruction efforts from its own resources, support from the international community remains vital.”

He stressed that developed nations bear a moral responsibility to extend financial support to countries most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.

Turning to the broader climate crisis, the Minister underscored that Pakistan is home to more than 7,000 glaciers, many of which in Gilgit-Baltistan are melting at an alarming pace. He recalled that 2025 is being observed as the “Year of Glaciers” in Pakistan, and urged the international community to extend robust cooperation in addressing the looming risks posed by glacial melt.