Anthro Insights in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) organized a one-day workshop for members of provincial assemblies of Pakistan on “Climate Change Agenda and International Commitments”. Country Representative WFD Ms. Sana Naz opened the session and delivered her welcome note to the provincial members highlighting the importance of focusing on the subject of climate change.
In the session, the trainer Ms. Zoya Shaffay briefed the members about the legislative mandate of provincial assemblies, and their powers to legislate on the subject. The main theme of this session was discussing the post-18th Amendment legislative scenario, allowing provinces to tailor the regional legislations exclusive to the geographical and demographical needs of their provinces. She also explicated the need to overcome the interdepartmental communication gap to ensure a sustainable system working on relevant legislations. During the second session, the trainer highlighted the best practices of the Standing Committee on Climate Change (CCC) as an effort of better legislation and oversight.
An interactive session was also held where all the MPAs were encouraged to discuss the environmental challenges in their respective regions, and give recommendations to tackle climate risks. Mr. Muhammad Akbar, Chair of Mengel Standing Committee on Environment Balochistan, highlighted that droughts and dryness are one of the biggest problems faced by Baluchistan. MPA Ms. Uzma Kardaar discussed the adverse effects of climate change on vulnerable groups such as women, children, PWDs, etc as they get affected the most by natural disasters. The need to make climate change the topmost priority was highlighted by all the members who also recommended creating awareness and risk mapping regarding climate change.
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