MANILA : Senators Abdul Qadir and Syed Waqar Mehdi, representing Pakistan’s Senate, addressed the first Gathering of Intergovernmental Fiscal Institutions in Manila today, focusing on fiscal federalism, equitable resource distribution, climate financing, and parliamentary oversight. Their speeches emphasized the need for fair resource allocation and the importance of climate resilience in fiscal policies.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Senator Abdul Qadir discussed the necessity of fair, predictable, and transparent public resource distribution for inclusive growth and the effective delivery of essential services such as education and healthcare. He highlighted the role of fiscal devolution to local governments and stressed the importance of accountability. The Senate of Pakistan values equitable resource sharing and effective public finance management, Qadir noted, and he welcomed the proposed IGFIN peer network for experience sharing among federations.

Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi addressed the fiscal challenges posed by climate change, natural disasters, water insecurity, and environmental degradation, particularly in vulnerable regions. He cited Pakistan’s experiences with the devastating 2022 floods, heatwaves, and droughts, and called for increased access to climate adaptation finance, technology, and capacity-building support. Mehdi emphasized that intergovernmental fiscal transfers should consider climate vulnerability and disaster exposure, advocating for predictable climate financing, climate-budget tagging, and robust parliamentary oversight to advance equity and climate resilience in fiscal policy.