Pakistan faces an existential challenge where climate change, fragile governance, and weak institutions converge to threaten its stability. This was the central concern at the seminar “Rethinking Building a Resilient Pakistan: Disaster Management and Climate Adaptation”, organized by The Truth International (TTI) in Islamabad. Among the key voices, Dr. Sohail Malik, a leading expert on climate and sustainable development, delivered a forceful call for reimagining resilience through decentralization, citizen empowerment, and systemic governance reform. His insights framed resilience not as a policy option but as a matter of national survival.
Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier
Dr. Malik argued that climate change is not merely another natural hazard but a “threat multiplier.” Unlike singular events such as floods or earthquakes, it amplifies pre-existing vulnerabilities, deepens social inequalities, and compounds governance failures. While provincial capitals may remain shielded by infrastructure and resources, it is rural communities, farmers, and marginalized groups that suffer the greatest impact. Pakistan, ranked among the top five most climate-vulnerable countries, cannot afford fragmented and overly centralized responses.
The Governance Gap
At the heart of Dr. Malik’s critique was the gap between secure provincial headquarters and vulnerable localities. “Disasters don’t strike at provincial headquarters; they devastate communities on the ground,” he stressed. Current resilience strategies, designed at higher levels of government, often fail to reflect the lived realities of people most at risk. Delayed responses, information gaps, and weak local systems turn natural hazards into humanitarian crises. For Malik, this disconnect underscores the urgent need for governance rooted in local realities.
Decentralization vs. Revolution
Dr. Malik drew an important distinction between decentralization and revolution. Decentralization, he explained, can often remain cosmetic—limited to bureaucratic adjustments or administrative divisions. What Pakistan needs instead is a revolutionary transformation in governance philosophy, where institutions truly serve citizens. “Decentralization without revolution is just division. What we need is systemic restructuring where governance aligns with people’s needs,” he asserted.
Citizen-Centered Resilience
Central to Malik’s vision is a shift in perspective—from policies framed in technical jargon to approaches rooted in citizens’ daily struggles. Resilience, he argued, is not built in bureaucratic headquarters but in villages, towns, and local institutions. Disaster preparedness and climate adaptation must be guided by the voices, needs, and aspirations of ordinary people. “Dynamics must be close to the needs of the people,” he emphasized, insisting that resilience must emerge from citizen-centered governance.
Survival, Not Choice
Echoing the words of Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry, Dr. Malik reiterated that resilience is no longer a matter of choice but of survival. With climate shocks increasing in intensity and frequency, Pakistan cannot afford incremental or superficial reforms. “Revolution is not a choice, it is survival,” he declared, urging policymakers to embrace systemic reform as an existential imperative.
Local Governments as the Backbone of Resilience
Dr. Malik lamented Pakistan’s chronic neglect of local governance systems. Instead of sidelining local governments, he argued, they must be empowered as the backbone of resilience. Equipped with fiscal resources, administrative authority, and citizen accountability, local governments can coordinate evacuations, implement nature-based solutions, and mobilize communities more effectively than distant provincial centers.
Decentralization in Action
True decentralization, Malik warned, must move beyond rhetoric. It requires:
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Administrative alignment with local needs.
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Fiscal empowerment so resources reach communities.
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Political legitimacy for local institutions.
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Citizen participation in shaping policies.
Only by embedding governance at the grassroots can Pakistan ensure rapid, effective, and inclusive disaster response.
Nature-Based Solutions and Global Lessons
Dr. Malik also stressed that Pakistan’s resilience strategy must prioritize nature-based solutions—wetland restoration, watershed management, reforestation, and climate-smart agriculture. These approaches, he argued, not only mitigate climate risks but also support livelihoods and biodiversity. Learning from international practices, he pointed out that in many countries, resilience is driven bottom-up by local governments rather than imposed top-down.
Toward a Resilient Future
Dr. Malik’s address carried urgent policy implications: recognize climate change as a threat multiplier, empower local governance, adopt nature-based solutions, and restructure governance around citizens. His message was clear—Pakistan’s path to resilience depends on revolutionary decentralization that brings governance closer to the people. Without it, the country risks remaining trapped in cycles of disaster and recovery.
