WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), organized a two-day national seminar in Islamabad to identify practical pathways for scaling up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across Pakistan. The event brought together senior government leaders, policymakers, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risks.
Government Emphasis on NbS for Flood Management
Amir Mohyuddin, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination (MoCC & EC), served as the chief guest. He highlighted the changing flood dynamics in Pakistan, noting that monsoon patterns are shifting westward, leading to increased glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding. Mohyuddin outlined the Ministry's efforts to address these challenges and praised WWF-Pakistan and PRCS for promoting innovative NbS. He emphasized that healthy forests, rangelands, wetlands, and protected areas are vital for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
WWF-Pakistan's NbS Interventions and Impact
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, stated that the organization has been developing and scaling NbS such as floating treatment wetlands, gabion bunds, check dams, and recharge wells. These interventions aim to improve water security, reduce flood risks, restore ecosystems, and strengthen climate resilience. Through the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) project, WWF-Pakistan has implemented over 320 NbS interventions across 16 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab over the past five years, benefiting more than 500,000 people. Building on these successes, WWF-Pakistan is now preparing to implement the Recharge Pakistan initiative across the Indus Basin, which will directly benefit over 680,000 people and strengthen the climate resilience of more than seven million people.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
Mrs. Farzhana Naek, Chairperson of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, underscored the growing importance of partnerships between humanitarian and environmental organizations. She noted that scaling up NbS will require stronger institutional coordination, supportive policy frameworks, sustainable financing, and meaningful engagement of local communities. Participants across technical and panel discussions examined practical experiences from across Pakistan and focused on enabling policies, financing mechanisms, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration needed to scale implementation. They reaffirmed the importance of partnerships across government, humanitarian organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate nationwide implementation.
