Baku: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, delivered Pakistan’s National Ministerial Statement at the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was held under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”

According to Press Information Department, Dr. Musadik Malik emphasized the links between climate change, urban inequality, poverty, and housing injustice in his address. He highlighted that vulnerable communities disproportionately suffer from climate disasters, despite contributing the least to these crises. Dr. Malik noted that climate-related events such as floods can erase decades of progress for families striving to escape poverty.

The Minister called for justice and inclusion to be core elements of urban planning and housing policies. He stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in the design of cities. Dr. Malik pointed out that nearly half of Pakistan’s population lives in urban areas, with a significant portion residing in informal settlements and slums.

Dr. Malik cited the example of a severe heatwave in Karachi in 2024, where temperatures soared to 47 degrees Celsius, resulting in the deaths of approximately 560 people. He highlighted that the victims were mainly from marginalized communities lacking access to infrastructure and protection from extreme weather.

Further, he provided statistics on the impacts of floods in Pakistan, noting the loss of approximately 6,000 lives and the displacement of around 40 million people from the last four major floods. Dr. Malik argued for affordable housing to be recognized as a basic right and criticized the current treatment of it as a welfare issue.

Concluding his speech, Dr. Malik urged for the “Baku Call for Action” to focus on justice-centred urban solutions and global cooperation to create safe, inclusive, and equitable cities for all.