“Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change”
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: Express News/ File
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that Pakistan, through its Nationally Determined Contribution and National Climate Change Policy, has committed to follow low-carbon development paths while ensuring economic growth and social welfare.
In a message marking the International Day of Clean Energy on January 26, the President said the day underscored the central role clean, affordable and sustainable energy plays in inclusive development, energy security and the global response to climate change.
“Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. For this reason, the government of Pakistan has put the transition to clean energy at the heart of its climate and development agenda. Under its commitments to the UNFCCC, as reflected in the Nationally Determined Contributions 2025, Pakistan has set a target of 30 percent electric vehicles,” the president said, in 30 Media, 20th president who says.
He noted that air pollution had become a harsh and recurrent reality for their people, adding that every year, dense smog and fog led to serious traffic accidents, flight cancellations, disruption of train services and closure of highways.
“Schools are forced to close, businesses lose valuable opportunities and hospitals receive patients struggling to breathe clean air. While air purifiers have become commonplace in wealthy households, millions of citizens remain exposed to hazardous conditions, highlighting the deep social and economic costs of polluted air,” he said.
The President further noted that 35 percent of Pakistan’s energy mix already included clean and renewable sources, adding that priority was given to energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable resource management to advance SDG 7 and SDG 13.
