Islamabad: A five-day International Training Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Green Development for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) successfully concluded at COMSATS University Islamabad. According to Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in The South, the workshop was organized by the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO), China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences (CPJRC), and COMSATS, with collaboration from the UNESCO Chair for Mountain Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience and ANSO-DRR.
The closing ceremony featured Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, as the Chief Guest. She highlighted the importance of enhancing early warning systems, developing resilient infrastructure, and implementing climate-smart planning to address Pakistan’s susceptibility to climate-related disasters. The event was attended by senior representatives from partner organizations, academia, government institutions, scientists, researchers, and participants from both Pakistan and abroad.
Amb. Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, reiterated the organization’s dedication to science-based solutions for climate change challenges. He emphasized the need to integrate risk-informed decision-making, climate science, ecosystem preservation, and innovation into both international and national policies. Prof. Hong Tianhua, Executive Director of CPJRC, spoke on the necessity of connecting disaster risk reduction with sustainable development to ensure a resilient future.
The workshop featured 18 experts and scientists from Pakistan and China, who delivered lectures and training on topics such as landslide dynamics, geophysical flow modeling, glacier systems, disaster risk assessment, resilient infrastructure, and regional energy cooperation. Seventy participants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Syria benefited from the sessions.
The partnerships and knowledge gained from the workshop are aimed at enhancing resilience, promoting green development, and advancing climate-responsive strategies for CPEC and the Belt and Road Region.