ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lauded the United Nations’ decision to include the country among key beneficiaries of the $250 million “Glaciers to Farms” programme under the Green Climate Fund (GCF), describing it as a landmark step toward strengthening climate adaptation in one of its most disaster-prone regions.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination welcomed the approval of the GCF-funded initiative during the 43rd GCF Board Meeting. The programme, led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to address growing risks from glacial melt and water scarcity in vulnerable mountain ecosystems.
Ministry spokesperson and Climate Action Advocacy Expert Muhammad Saleem Shaikh said in an official statement that the initiative represents a “landmark advancement in global adaptation efforts.” He noted that Pakistan’s component will focus on the Swat River Basin in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — a glacier-fed region vital for farming, irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower generation, but increasingly exposed to climate-induced disasters.
A Milestone in Pakistan’s Adaptation Journey
“Pakistan’s inclusion in the GCF-funded ‘Glaciers to Farms’ programme indeed marks a critical milestone in our national adaptation journey and commitment to global climate advocacy and action,” Mr Shaikh said. “It is an unprecedented recognition of Pakistan’s frontline position in the global climate crisis and underscores the international community’s confidence in our ongoing adaptation initiatives.”
He added that the initiative would bolster climate resilience in northern mountain regions by improving water governance, expanding early warning systems and promoting climate-smart agriculture.
Supporting Mountain Communities
“This funding will directly strengthen the resilience of mountain communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on glacier-fed water systems,” Mr Shaikh said. “It will help install early warning mechanisms, modernize irrigation practices, and provide farmers with science-based adaptation tools to safeguard food and water security.”
The project aligns with Pakistan’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the ongoing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF-II) project, both designed to mitigate climate-related disaster risks.
Protecting Fragile Ecosystems
“Pakistan hosts over 13,000 glaciers, the largest concentration outside the polar regions, making our high-altitude regions extremely vulnerable to glacial retreat,” Mr Shaikh said. “The GCF-ADB initiative will help protect not just climate-vulnerable mountain ecosystems but also the livelihoods of millions dependent on these fragile mountain environments.”
According to the ADB, the Glaciers to Farms programme aims to benefit more than 13 million people across nine glacier-dependent countries by improving climate-risk assessment, glacial monitoring and community preparedness.
Mr Shaikh reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborate actively with ADB and GCF to identify priority projects in northern and high-altitude areas.
“This collaboration is a global acknowledgment of Pakistan’s proactive climate leadership,” he said. “We are determined to ensure that every dollar of international climate finance translates into tangible on-ground resilience for our farmers, mountain communities, and future generations.”
