Ahsan Iqbal Urges Science-Based Climate Planning for Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk)-  Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called for urgent, science-based strategies to strengthen climate resilience in Balochistan, speaking at an IFRAP technical workshop on designing resilience at scale, basin planning, flood modeling, and infrastructure feasibility.

Addressing government officials, development partners, and technical experts, the minister said climate change has become the “new normal,” requiring a shift from reactive disaster response to proactive resilience planning. He recalled the devastating 2022 floods, noting that provinces like Sindh and Balochistan were among the worst affected, deepening existing socio-economic vulnerabilities.

He explained that the IFRAP initiative was launched after Pakistan secured a $400 million financing package from the World Bank to support Balochistan, which lacked the fiscal capacity to undertake such large-scale resilience investments. The program focuses on infrastructure rehabilitation, livelihood restoration, and long-term climate adaptation.

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Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that Pakistan is among the world’s most water-stressed countries, facing severe challenges such as declining reservoir capacity due to sedimentation and the absence of major new water storage projects over the past 50 years. He noted that the country can currently store water for only about 30 days, far below the global benchmark of 120 days, while nearly 80% of water inflows arrive during the monsoon season.

The workshop emphasized basin-level planning, flood modeling, and infrastructure feasibility as key tools for evidence-based decision-making. The minister stressed that future planning must move away from input-based budgeting toward outcome-based development frameworks focused on measurable impact.

He also pointed to serious groundwater depletion in Quetta, where water tables are falling by up to four meters annually, and called for urgent implementation of integrated water resource management systems. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Balochistan, noting a development allocation exceeding Rs. 200 billion.

Ahsan Iqbal further announced steps toward improved coordination through a National Water Security Task Force, bringing together federal and provincial authorities along with technical and international partners. The workshop also featured contributions from provincial ministers, IFRAP officials, and representatives of the World Bank and other organizations.

Concluding his remarks, he urged stakeholders to use technical expertise to develop actionable solutions, stating that investment in water storage, scientific planning, and climate-resilient infrastructure can turn future floods from disasters into opportunities for sustainable water management.