Rs2.78bn allocated to Climate Change Division in new development budget

Pakistan, despite being among the countries most affected by climate change, has not included a single new project to address climate-related challenges in the proposed federal development budget for 2026-27.

According to budget documents, the documents shown that Rs2.784 billion has been allocated to the Climate Change Division under the new development budget. The amount is earmarked solely for three ongoing projects, with no new scheme included in the development programme.

The three projects carry a combined cost of Rs123.51 billion. According to the documents, only around Rs35 billion is expected to have been spent by 30 June 2026.

The allocation for the Climate Change Division stood at Rs2.30 billion in the previous financial year.

The largest share of the funding, Rs2.497 billion, has been proposed for the Green Pakistan Programme, which has a total estimated cost of Rs122.14 billion.

More than Rs290 million has been allocated for enhancing the ministry’s technical capacity.

Meanwhile, only Rs1.6 million has been earmarked for the Green Skills project under the Sustainable Development Goals framework. The initiative was designed to promote green entrepreneurship.

Pakistan faces natural disasters every year, yet the proposed allocation remains limited despite official commitments to climate resilience.

More than 1,000 people lost their lives in last year’s floods. The government had also planned to complete a 245-day monsoon preparedness programme in coordination with the provinces.