Islamic Relief Pakistan conducted a research study highlighting the insufficient awareness among the populations of Karachi and Thatta regarding climate change issues, their causes, and possible solutions.
The study emphasizes the vulnerability of Karachi due to its large population, influx of migrants, extensive slum areas, and haphazard development. Similarly, Thatta is notably at risk due to its proximity to the coastal belt of the Arabian Sea and the Indus delta. These findings were published in the study titled “Unpacking Urban Resilience: Towards a Framework for Building Urban Resilience to Climate Change in Thatta and Karachi” on December 5, 2023.
One of the identified problems is the inadequate implementation of climate change and urban resilience policies in Pakistan. This oversight leaves the lower classes particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, as indicated by the study’s revelation of low levels of urban resilience.
The study underscores the necessity for institutions that offer accessible information and data on climate change threats and potential responses. It also highlights the reactive nature of actions taken by individuals and government bodies, stressing the urgency for community engagement, organization, and ownership in Karachi and Thatta.
Decades of flawed urban planning and the looming threat of climate change pose substantial risks to both Karachi and Thatta, both ill-prepared for potential climate catastrophes.
Karachi and Thatta are viewed as pivotal locations to establish a framework for urban climate change resilience, offering comparative models for global climate change strategies.
Documenting local perspectives and expectations of various stakeholders, the study aims to understand vulnerability and mitigation concerning climate change and urban resilience in Karachi and Thatta. It cautions against the lack of political will, warning that conflicting interests among political parties could worsen the negligence toward climate change issues.
Acknowledgement: Daily Dawn