ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, has urged for an immediate shift from prolonged procedures to practical actions aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Pakistan’s climate-vulnerable cities and impoverished communities.

According to Press Information Department, Dr. Malik made these comments during a meeting with Ms. Oddy Angelo, a UN-Habitat Officer from Bolivia. The discussions centered on urban development, climate resilience, water and sanitation, flood management, and initiatives for at-risk communities. Dr. Malik criticized delays in development projects, emphasizing that policy and international cooperation must translate into on-the-ground work.

The Minister stressed the need for impactful work, encouraging stakeholders to minimize delays and focus on implementation. He highlighted the requirement for practical solutions, particularly for communities dealing with contaminated water, flooding, inadequate sanitation, and poor urban infrastructure.

Dr. Malik advocated for community-based, self-sustaining projects that can be replicated nationwide. He noted that while considerable efforts have been made by various institutions and development partners, much of the work remains fragmented. The priority, he indicated, should be identifying successful interventions, demonstrating their results, and scaling them into initiatives that could form part of a national agenda.

The Minister also stressed the rapid implementation of the National Urban Strategy, calling for stronger coordination among government bodies, UN agencies, development partners, local authorities, and communities. Additionally, he proposed a business and innovation idea competition for Pakistani youth to provide solutions in areas such as climate change, public safety, vulnerable cities, flood management, technology, invention, water and sanitation, and green industry.

Dr. Malik reiterated that development resources must reach communities effectively and that local populations should play a meaningful role in designing and sustaining projects. He concluded by emphasizing the need for moving from ideas to implementation, from isolated projects to scalable models, and from policy discussions to solutions that improve people’s lives, with a focus on less delay, more delivery, and tangible improvements for vulnerable communities.