ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated the importance of providing predictable, flexible, and grant-based financial assistance to developing countries, enabling them to establish resilient infrastructure and advance sustainable development.

“Without such support, the path to climate adaption and green transformation will remain elusive,” the prime minister stated in a video message at the two-day Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, organized by the Media Group.

Addressing the international audience, he highlighted Pakistan’s “cruel paradox” in the climate crisis—despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions, the country remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as floods, glacial melting, heatwaves, and droughts.

Reflecting on the 2022 floods, he recalled that one-third of Pakistan was inundated, displacing 33 million people and causing the loss of 1,700 lives. He emphasized that this catastrophe transformed climate change from a distant concern into an immediate call for action.

Commending the organizers for focusing on “one of the most pressing challenges of our times,” he noted that while the government had inherited strong policies such as the National Climate Change Policy 2021 and the National Adaptation Plan 2023, these frameworks alone were insufficient.

To address implementation gaps, he said, the government has prioritized governance reforms, policy execution, and capacity-building measures.

“The initiatives like the 5Es and 5Cs are rooted in our homegrown transformation plan, Uraan Pakistan. We are integrating climate resilience into energy, equity, connectivity, and development,” he remarked.

The prime minister concluded by urging all stakeholders to turn the conference into a meaningful call to action, ensuring a cleaner, greener, and more climate-resilient Pakistan for future generations.