TI-Pakistan & PWS Engage Communities on Climate Governance and Accountability

JHANG: To improve climate governance in climate-affected districts and to enhance community participation in environmental planning and decision-making a community dialogue was held on Tuesday. The event was organized by Transparency International Pakistan in collaboration with the Programme for Well-being and Sustainability (PWS).
Officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Rescue 1122, Social Welfare Department, and local citizens attended. Sajid Sial, CEO of PWS, and Nasreen Memon, Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan, briefed participants on climate change and its impacts in Punjab.
Fareeha Fatima, Associate Coordinator, TI Pakistan, reviewed the Punjab Climate Change Policy 2024, which provides a framework for reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly initiatives. Faisal Manzoor, Provincial Coordinator, CPDI, highlighted the use of the Right to Information (RTI) law to identify governance gaps and demand transparency.
Muhammad Waris, Assistant Director, Social Welfare Department, spoke about climate-induced migration and agricultural impacts, stressing the importance of including community voices in policymaking.
Rescue 1122 District Coordinator Askari Parveen emphasized timely community response to evacuation orders during disasters and informed that Community Emergency Response Centers have been set up across Punjab to train volunteers.
Saeed Chishti, Coordinator DDMA, noted that the establishment of DDMA has improved preparedness and recovery after disasters.
Participants were also introduced to TI Pakistan’s Legal Advice Center, after which they filed RTI requests to relevant departments.