Islamabad, (TW NEWS) – UN-Habitat in collaboration with Shehersaaz marked the completion of the community-level component of its Climate Change Adaptation Project in Pakistan through a closing and celebration ceremony, highlighting significant achievements in strengthening community resilience, enhancing local capacities and promoting practical solutions to climate-related challenges.

Pakistan is increasingly experiencing floods, water scarcity, heatwaves and other climate-related hazards, placing growing pressure on communities. Limited water storage, inadequate drainage, encroachment on natural waterways and limited use of rainwater harvesting further increase vulnerability.

Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Pakistan has called for greater attention to urban climate adaptation. With funding from the Adaptation Fund, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) and national and local partners, a multi-level climate adaptation project is being implemented to strengthen resilience to water scarcity, floods and droughts.

A major achievement was the installation of 5,000 household-level rainwater harvesting units. Of these, 2,500 units were installed in Rawalpindi and 2,500 in Nowshera, providing a combined storage capacity of approximately 7.86 million litres. The intervention demonstrates the potential of decentralized rainwater harvesting as a practical solution to strengthen household water resilience.

The project also supported locally informed adaptation planning, with seven Union Council-level community plans developed in Rawalpindi and eight Neighborhood Council-level plans in Nowshera. These plans enabled communities to identify local climate risks and prioritize actions to strengthen preparedness and resilience.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Odicea Angelo Barrios, Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat, highlighted the importance of strengthening climate resilience at the community level and linking local adaptation measures with broader urban development priorities. She appreciated the contribution of Shehersaaz as the implementation partner and acknowledged the active participation and engagement of communities in advancing climate adaptation and resilience.

Mr. Waqar Syed, Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Pakistan, highlighted the significant reach of the community-level component, which directly benefited 105,130 people and indirectly benefited approximately 200,000 people through climate adaptation, water management, awareness and disaster preparedness interventions. He emphasized the value of combining practical solutions, such as rainwater harvesting, with community planning, awareness and capacity building to strengthen climate resilience.

Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director, Shehersaaz, acknowledged the active participation of communities and emphasized the importance of community ownership and locally appropriate solutions in responding to climate-related risks. Community awareness and capacity building formed another key component of the project implementation. Sessions covered climate risks, disaster preparedness and resilience, alongside practical environmental practices including solid waste management, the 4Rs, kitchen gardening, urban farming and compost making.

Communities also received training in emergency rescue, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. She explained that to strengthen emergency preparedness, certified first aid trainings were conducted in collaboration with Rescue 1122, equipping school communities with essential skills to respond to emergencies. Awareness materials on disasters, climate risks and heatwaves were also developed and distributed in project areas.

The completion of the community-level component represents an important milestone within the broader UN-Habitat Climate Change Adaptation Project and provides valuable experience for advancing climate adaptation in Pakistan’s urban areas. The project’s multi-level approach also highlights the importance of connecting national and institutional efforts with locally led solutions that respond to the specific needs and risks faced by communities.

As Pakistan continues to face increasing climate-related risks, locally led and inclusive adaptation solutions will remain critical to protecting vulnerable communities and building resilient cities. UN-Habitat reaffirmed its commitment to working with national and local institutions, development partners, implementation partners and communities to advance practical, sustainable and people-centred approaches to climate resilience.