“Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change”
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: Express News/File
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said Pakistan, through its Nationally Determined Contribution and National Climate Change Policy, is committed to pursuing low-carbon development pathways while safeguarding economic growth and social welfare.
In a message marking International Clean Energy Day on January 26, the President said the day highlights the central role of clean, affordable and sustainable energy in inclusive development, energy security and the global response to climate change.
“Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse effects of climate change. For this reason, the Government of Pakistan has placed the transition to clean energy at the heart of its climate and development agenda. As part of its commitments to the UNFCCC, as reflected in the Nationally Determined Contributions 2025, Pakistan has set a target of 30 percent electric vehicles by 2030,” the President’s Secretariat said in a statement. press release, quoting the president.
He observed that air pollution had become a harsh and recurring reality for their people, adding that every year, dense smog and fog led to serious road accidents, flight cancellations, disruption of train services and closure of highways.
“Schools are being forced to close, businesses are losing valuable opportunities, and hospitals are welcoming patients who struggle to breathe clean air. While air purifiers have become common in affluent households, millions of citizens remain exposed to unsafe conditions, highlighting the profound social and economic cost of polluted air,” he said.
The President further noted that 35 percent of Pakistan’s energy mix already comprised clean and renewable sources, adding that priority was being given to energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable management of resources to advance SDG 7 and SDG 13.
