Islamabad — Pakistan faces an urgent need for governance reform, decentralized decision-making, and visionary leadership to build resilience against recurring climate disasters, emphasized Major General (R) Samrez Salik, HI(M), at a seminar organized by The Truth International (TTI) titled “Rethinking Building a Resilient Pakistan: Disaster Management and Climate Adaptation.”
A decorated retired officer of the Pakistan Army and a respected strategist on national security and governance, General Salik highlighted Pakistan’s systemic vulnerabilities, linking climate resilience directly with the structure and functioning of the state. He stressed that resilience cannot be achieved through technology or resources alone but requires a fundamental rethinking of governance, leadership, and political priorities.
A Soldier-Scholar Perspective
Drawing on decades of military and policy experience, General Salik analyzed how Pakistan’s diverse geography—rivers, mountains, deserts, and coastal belts—creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities. “Geography defines both opportunity and vulnerability,” he said, emphasizing that localized governance systems are essential to respond effectively to region-specific disasters, from floods and glacial melt to droughts and earthquakes.
Linking Governance and Climate Resilience
Salik argued that Pakistan’s failure to adapt to climate realities is largely due to institutional inertia and centralized decision-making. Disaster-affected communities often wait for assistance from distant provincial headquarters, where decisions are shaped by politics rather than urgency. To address this, he proposed smaller administrative units capable of rapid, context-specific responses.
“Centralized governance delays action, deepens suffering, and erodes trust in the state,” he remarked. Decentralization, he argued, would empower communities, improve service delivery, and transform political structures into more participatory systems.
Critique of Leadership and Political Priorities
General Salik criticized chronic leadership gaps and political priorities that prioritize status quo over public welfare. He highlighted the 2022 floods as an example, noting that delayed responses and weak institutions exacerbated human suffering despite global aid. He called for leadership that aligns political interests with national priorities, emphasizing that disasters in Pakistan are not only natural—they are deeply political.
Call for Smaller Administrative Divisions
Central to General Salik’s vision is the creation of climate-responsive, smaller administrative units. These units would ensure faster disaster response, enhance local governance, and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that cost lives. General Salik framed this as a moral imperative, a recognition of the state’s duty to protect its citizens.
Pakistan’s Crisis of Resilience
Ranked among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan faces existential threats from floods, heatwaves, glacial melt, and erratic rainfall. General Salik emphasized that resilience is a matter of survival, not a luxury, and that systemic reform is required to break cycles of unpreparedness.
A Vision of Urgency and Realism
General Salik’s approach combines urgency with actionable solutions. He urged Pakistan to implement reforms including smaller administrative divisions, empowered local governments, and leadership aligned with national priorities. His recommendations provide a blueprint for shifting Pakistan from reactive disaster management to proactive resilience-building, strengthening governance, democracy, and citizen trust.
