A two-day training workshop on climate governance, titled “Climate-Based Governance: Empowering the Public Sector,” was recently held at the NED University of Engineering & Technology, City Campus, Karachi. The workshop was jointly organized by Climate Action Sindh (CAS) and the Research and Training Wing of the Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh. Its main aim was to strengthen the ability of government authorities to harmonize their actions with the objectives of the Karachi Climate Action Plan (KCAP).

The workshop welcomed attendance from officials of different government agencies, universities, civil society, and non-governmental organizations. The training emphasized six major themes: legal frameworks, digital data systems, energy transition, sanitation and drainage, biodiversity, and climate.

Key Discussions

Speaking at the inaugural session, Abdul Nabi Memon, Director General, Research and Training Wing, emphasized the situation’s urgency, saying, “Karachi’s urban intricacies and environmental risks call for informed and proactive government leadership.” Yasir Hussain, Director of CAS, presented the KCAP, wherein he spoke of its vision, sectoral objectives, and continuing progress. He stressed the need to simplify complicated climate issues in order to promote understanding and impactful action amongst the public.

The CAS Director also emphasized the importance of climate data, initiating tools such as the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) and IQAir for urban analysis. During the legal session, Zubair Abro, a Supreme Court advocate, spoke about the legal and international agendas for the Paris Agreement and Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Hafiz Baloch of the Sindh Indigenous Rights Alliance highlighted the critical role of indigenous knowledge and community involvement in achieving climate justice. Addressing data challenges, Dr. Ishaque Ansari from the Sindh Bureau of Statistics noted that while old data has been digitized, Sindh lacks a cohesive data department.

The transport and energy session welcomes experts, media, and representatives of the private sector to debate clean energy sources, equity, and the growth of the local electric vehicle industry. Panelists called for energy justice, looking into subsidy disparities, and mainstreaming informal transport (rickshaws, Qingqi) into modern transport networks. Participants could also take electric vehicles offered by E-Turbo for test runs on the first day.

The second day began with a presentation by Imtiaz Bhatti, Director General of Urban and Regional Policy, who spoke about green bonds, carbon credits, and climate taxes as financial instruments. He stressed the importance of mobilizing international financial resources for green infrastructure, given the challenges in funding traditional infrastructure.

Saeeduddin Ahmed pointed out the correlation between drainage, sanitation, and health. A trailer of the documentary “Rehri Goth: Unseen Stories” exposed the local environmental injustice issue, highlighting the effect of waste on vulnerable communities. A biodiversity panel consisting of Salman Baloch, Javed Khan, and Almas emphasized the necessity of nature-based solutions in urban planning.

Hasan Ilyas of Punjab’s Urban Unit gave an overview of KCAP progress, while Zarak Khan of the State Bank of Pakistan launched Green Taxonomy, a program for mainstreaming climate finance.

The workshop concluded with Kinza Naseem, Manager of Green Energy, and Wardah Mumtaz, Researcher of City Planning, extending gratitude to the participants and reaffirming CAS’s commitment to institutional training and sectoral collaboration.