Red tape blocking Pakistan’s access to climate funds, says aide

Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah warned that bureaucratic delays and slow disbursements are blocking Pakistan’s access to critical climate finance, even as the country confronts escalating water and climate stress. He delivered the remarks while presenting Pakistan’s national statement at the FAO’s Rome Water Dialogue.

Calling Pakistan among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, Dr Shah said the country has crossed the threshold into water scarcity and requires timely, large-scale investment to build resilience. He cited the dual pressures of catastrophic flooding and prolonged shortages, arguing that current storage capacity—around a month of supply—is insufficient.

The adviser urged reforms to global climate finance institutions to simplify access and speed up approvals. Pakistan’s updated climate targets estimate a need of $7–14 billion annually for adaptation by 2030, he noted, but the existing architecture has turned urgent investment into a paradox.

He advocated a mix of traditional high-storage projects and nature-based solutions, including restored floodplains, resilient irrigation and watershed management, to strengthen long-term water security and reduce disaster risk.