Climate risks call for transparent fiscal framework: PPP senator

Climate risks call for transparent fiscal framework: PPP senator

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peo­­ples Party (PPP) Sindh Gen­­eral Secretary Senator Waq­­ar Me­­h­di has called for reform of intergovernmental fiscal transfers so that governments can better cope with fiscal and governance pressures arising from climate change, environmental degradation, water insecurity and natural disasters. Speaking at the first gathering of Intergovernmental Fiscal Institutions in Manila, Mr Meh­di said climate-vulnerable reg­­ions needed fiscal arrangeme­nts that took into account differences in exposure to climate risks, environmental responsibilities and fiscal capacity. The discussion was titled ‘Em­erging Issues, Indepen­de­nce and Driving Impact’. According to a communication received from Manila, Mr Mehdi noted that Pakistan was particularly vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than one per cent of glo­bal greenhouse-gas emissions. The devastating floods, heatwaves and droughts the country had experienced underscored the need for greater and more timely access to international climate finance, he said. Senator Mehdi stressed that climate justice required stro­nger support for adaptation, resilience-building, technology and institutional capacity. He also called for climate financing that was transparent and predictable, along with stronger climate-budget tagging, closer monitoring of expenditure and effective parliamentary oversight. Ecological fiscal transfers, targeted and matching grants and performance-based finan­cing could encourage responsible en­­v­ironmental management, he said. Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2026