Islamabad — Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, must urgently adopt preventive, region-specific strategies and devolve governance to local levels if it is to survive future climate shocks. This was the central message delivered by Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry at a seminar organized by The Truth International (TTI) on “Rethinking Building a Resilient Pakistan: Disaster Management and Climate Adaptation” in Islamabad.
Chaudhry, representing a younger generation of political leaders, emphasized that climate resilience cannot be treated as a partisan debate or reduced to short-term fixes. Instead, Pakistan’s very survival depends on a fundamental shift in governance: moving away from reactive crisis management and toward preventive planning and local empowerment.
Pakistan’s Climate Paradox
Highlighting Pakistan’s paradox, Chaudhry noted that despite contributing negligibly to global carbon emissions, the country ranks among the top five most climate-affected nations worldwide. He attributed this vulnerability not only to Pakistan’s geography but also to decades of poor planning, weak institutions, and over-centralization of authority.
“The floods of 2010 and 2022 showed us that while natural disasters may be inevitable, the devastation they cause is not,” he remarked. “It is governance failures, delayed responses, and distant decision-making that turn hazards into catastrophes.”
From Firefighting to Preventive Planning
Chaudhry strongly criticized Pakistan’s “firefighting” approach to disasters, where authorities scramble to respond after devastation strikes rather than working to prevent it. Emergency relief, he argued, is not only costlier but also far less effective than building long-term resilience.
“Decisions, when taken late, cost us lives and resources,” he said. “We must break this cycle of damage and recovery. Systemic resilience requires consistency across governments, preventive strategies, and robust local institutions.”
Call for Devolution of Power
A central pillar of Chaudhry’s address was the urgent need for devolution. He warned that Pakistan’s over-centralized governance model leaves disaster-affected communities waiting helplessly for distant authorities to act.
“The delay in response is directly proportional to the scale of destruction,” he stressed. “Decentralized governance ensures faster, more efficient disaster management by bringing authority and resources closer to the people.”
Chaudhry pointed to countries like the United States and India, where local governments are empowered to act decisively during crises. In contrast, Pakistan’s provincial and federal bureaucracies remain reluctant to share power, leaving local bodies underfunded and ineffective.
Neglect of Marginalized Regions
Chaudhry also underscored the neglect of regions such as Balochistan, Chitral, DG Khan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, where administrative gaps and bureaucratic hurdles result in late or insufficient relief. He likened Balochistan’s plight to being the “Africa within Pakistan”—resource-rich but deprived of basic services and effective governance.
“This neglect is not just unfair; it is dangerous. Without addressing regional inequities, Pakistan cannot build true resilience,” he warned.
Roadmap for Resilient Pakistan
Moving beyond critique, Chaudhry outlined a clear roadmap to strengthen Pakistan’s climate governance. His recommendations included:
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Transitioning from reactive relief efforts to preventive, long-term planning.
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Designing region-specific climate policies tailored to local vulnerabilities.
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Empowering local governments with financial autonomy, authority, and accountability.
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Eliminating bureaucratic delays in disaster response.
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Creating institutionalized chains of accountability from the federal level down to union councils.
“These steps are not optional,” he stated firmly. “They are necessary for Pakistan’s survival.”
Survival Over Politics
Perhaps the most powerful framing of Chaudhry’s message was his insistence that disaster management is not about politics but survival.
“From the valleys of Chitral to the deserts of Balochistan, climate change does not discriminate. People cannot afford to be casualties of political turf wars,” he said.
Chaudhry concluded by urging Pakistan’s leadership to rebuild trust between the state and its citizens by ensuring timely responses, equitable governance, and strong local institutions.
“Resilience is not just about surviving disasters,” he said. “It is about restoring faith that the state will stand with its people when they need it most.”
