At a climate-focused conference, Dr Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of LUMS, delivered a keynote underscoring the urgent need to integrate climate action into Pakistan’s economic growth strategy. In his address, he emphasised that climate challenges must be treated as fundamental economic constraints. “We simply can’t grow unless we center climate problems in our growth paradigm,” he asserted.
Drawing on historical data, Dr Cheema illustrated how early industrializers were able to advance without confronting climate crises, unlike late-industralizing nations. He highlighted that Pakistan faces not only global climate risks but also local environmental crises, including deforestation, declining soil fertility, and air and water pollution. He stressed the economic impact of these issues, warning that by 2050, climate-related issues could reduce Pakistan’s GDP growth by 25%.
To tackle these challenges, Dr Cheema stressed that Pakistan must embed climate resilience into its economic strategy, as environmental degradation and poor resource management are already limiting growth. He underscored that public investment should prioritise climate-resilient infrastructure, healthcare, and human capital, cautioning that “if the [tax-to-GDP] increase cannot translate into increased income and welfare for citizens through effective public investment, the legitimacy of that taxation policy will completely collapse.”
He also highlighted the importance of decentralised governance, arguing that empowering local communities is essential for effective climate action. “More local governance to make actions effective and to engage the community has to be central to any kind of transformation,” he stated. Additionally, he pointed to rapid population growth as a key structural challenge that must be addressed within the broader development strategy, noting that high fertility rates strain resources and make long-term sustainability more difficult to achieve.
Dr Ijaz Nabi, Professor at LUMS, also participated in the discussion, stressing the importance of proactive climate adaptation. He highlighted the need for preparedness against extreme weather events, strategies to mitigate rising temperatures, and sustainable urban planning to improve air quality. Dr Nabi emphasised that coordinated efforts are essential to build climate-resilient cities and safeguard public health.