ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan in collaboration with the Centre for International Peace & Stability (CIPS), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) organized an expert round table on “Understanding Climate-Security Nexus in Balochistan”, a discussion amongst civil and military stakeholders, on the campus of NUST on 25th November, 2022.
Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority, while speaking on analyzing the impacts of climate-induced hazards and vulnerabilities in Balochistan said:
We should be looking at a comprehensive model of security. Also, a lack of preparedness results in lack of capacity to manage disasters. We have lost the crops of this years, due to floods. 5% of the population is living in 45% of the land mass of Pakistan.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Dr. Tughral Yamin, Associate Dean CIPS, said:
Climate change is a non-traditional security matter. In Balochistan, only about 26 days of rainfall take place in a year. In addition, the province has faced successive waves of insurgency with the absence of a long term disaster policy.
Dr. Steffen Kudella, Resident Representative HSF Pakistan, said:
Climate change is a security challenge without being caused by any military activity. It threatens our living conditions, agriculture, water supply systems, and resource management. Therefore, climate change qualifies as a so called non-traditional security challenge. Non-traditional security challenges are risks to the survival and well-being of people. But they arise out of non-military sources. These challenges are national risks, but they are often also transnational in nature.
The round table's moderator, Brig. (Retd.) Dr. Fiaz Hussain Shah, introduced the main idea behind the discussion. He said:
We need a climate adaptation plan. Balochistan faces a fragile security environment, in addition to climate disturbance, drought, flash floods and aquifer depletion.
Mr. Shah Nasir, Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office & Senior Strategic Planner, stressed:
Ecological restoration of the river Indus is needed. We have an increasing population and depleting water resources. The recent floods affected thirty-four districts in Balochistan. The issue is either more water or very less. Balochistan had the “Karez” water system in the past but most of it is lost now. A change in mindset is needed. An inclusive economic growth model is needed. Let’s be collaborative.
Mr. Abdul Wadood, Executive Director of the Society for Empowering Human Resource organization, said:
There has been excessive pumping of ground water, along with poor governance, rampant un-employment, a lack of private sector presence, poor infrastructure and social services, continuous drought and flash floods, in addition to tribal and ethnic conflict, all of these are the mammoth issues that riddle Balochistan at present.
After the round table discussion, he participated together with Dr. Philipp Johannes Zehmisch from Universität Heidelberg, Germany in an interactive discussion with HSF grant holders and HSF supported experts at CIPS on their research projects.
The event was attended by several civil and military stakeholders, including Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. M. Samrez Salik, former Director General former Intitute for Strategic Studies Research & Analysis ISSRA, National Defence University, and Maj Gen (Retd.) Muhammad Salim Raza, Principal NIPCONS. Students and international development experts attended the event, too.
You may find event photos at https://twitter.com/HSF_Pakistan. For more information on HSF Pakistan, please visit https://pakistan.hss.de. Press contact: islamabad(at).hss.de