Pakistan Secures $10 Million for Climate Resilience in Indus River Basin With Nature-based Solutions

By Faridat Salifu

In a move to bolster climate resilience, Pakistan has secured USD 10 million in climate finance to support sustainable water management and ecosystem restoration in the Indus River Basin.

Approved by the Adaptation Fund Board, this funding will enable the launch of the Sustainable Actions for Ecosystem Restoration in Pakistan (SAFER) project, which focuses on nature-based solutions (NbS) to tackle the impacts of climate change, particularly on local communities.

The initiative, led by Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, will focus on adaptive water resource management and ecosystem restoration in the critical regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. The project is expected to span three and a half years, during which key interventions will be rolled out to increase water resilience. These include community-based early warning systems in hazard-prone areas, nature-based groundwater and spring water recharge systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure designed to address the specific needs of vulnerable communities.

The SAFER project is part of a broader effort to align with Pakistan’s National Adaptation Plan and the flagship Living Indus Initiative, which emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation to protect and restore natural and freshwater ecosystems in the Indus Basin.

This initiative comes at a critical time for Pakistan, with climate-driven disruptions to the Indus River threatening not only the country’s ecology but also its economy, with over 90 percent of the population and three-quarters of its economic activity dependent on the basin.

The funding from the Adaptation Fund is a significant step forward in helping Pakistan address the increasing risks posed by climate change, particularly in water-stressed and flood-prone areas.

It also places a strong emphasis on the inclusion of women, children, and youth, who are disproportionately affected by climate-induced crises, ensuring that these vulnerable groups benefit directly from the project’s interventions.

“This project is a vital part of Pakistan’s efforts to build resilience against climate disasters and is aligned with our national priorities to protect the environment and communities at risk,” said Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.

The international partnership driving the project, with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) acting as the regional implementing entity, aims to create lasting impacts across the Indus Basin.

With Pakistan being one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, this effort to integrate nature-based solutions into water management will not only protect ecosystems but also contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive development in some of the country’s most climate-sensitive regions.

The SAFER project marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s fight against climate change, with its focus on NbS offering a scalable model for other regions facing similar climate-related challenges.