Policy Dialogue on Climate Change: Resilience and Financing, Chairman P&D Board, Mr. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, presided over the session. The speakers shared their views about the reasons for climate change and suggested ways to deal with its harmful effects on humans and habitat. According to them, the unpredictable nature of heavy rains, droughts, floods, smog, and pest invasions are the main Syndromes of this havoc. In his opening remarks, Chairman P&D Board Mr Iftikhar Ali Sahoo welcomed the distinguished speakers and participants and said that climate change has badly impacted our day-to-day lives. He gave examples of present smog conditions in Lahore and its adjacent areas.
Chairman P&D Board said that it is a crucial issue therefore, we should take immediate steps to curb this issue, and for the said purpose, we are contacting all pertinent environmental stakeholders in order to create concrete policies that would prove helpful for reducing environmental challenges at the operational level. Chairman P&D Board further said that the Government of Punjab is taking serious steps to curb the issue by introducing revolutionary initiatives in transport, agriculture, industry, and other concerned departments. At the end, Chairman P&D Board gave his entire support to the endeavour to achieve the goal in the best possible way.
H.E. Dr Riina Kionka, EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan via zoom joined the session, Prof. Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Dean, Faculty of Geo-Sciences, Univesity of the Punjab, Mr. Muhammad Omar Masud, CEO Urban Unit, Mr. Rashid Kamal-ur-Rehman, Secretary Environment Protection Department, Government of the Punjab, Baptist Chetre, Project Director, GIZ, Prof. Dr. Tahir Hasan, Associate Professor, Director, LUMS project, Prof. Dr. Nadeem Javed SI, Professor, Karachi School of Business and Leadership, former Chief Economist, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Tobias Haq, Lead Country Economist, World Bank, Secretary Finance, Government of the Punjab, Prof. Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Country Director, IGC Pakistan, Fahad Arshad, Vice President, Coca Cola Pakistan, Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Co-PI, Jean Monnet Project, IT University, and Dr Abiha Zahra, Co-PI, Jean Monnet Project, IT', University attended the session as speakers.