OICCI pushes Pakistan to strengthen climate resilience

The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) voiced deep sorrow over deadly flash floods in Nepal, which have killed hundreds and left thousands unaccounted for. Its statement argued that the disaster should prompt Pakistan to speed up spending on climate resilience, early-warning networks and disaster readiness. According to Business Recorder, the chamber also extended sympathies to families and communities hit by the tragedy.

The chamber said Pakistan, which has repeatedly faced severe floods, displacement and loss of livelihoods, cannot wait for disasters before preparing. It cited rising temperatures and glacial melt as growing risks, noting that 2025 was the country's second-warmest year in 65 years, after the record heat of 2024. A federal minister put the annual cost of climate impacts at about one percent of GDP at OICCI's Pakistan Climate Conference earlier this year.

The chamber noted recent work by Pakistani authorities to build early warning capacity for glacial lake outburst floods, urban flooding and heatwaves. The chamber said Pakistan must move past systems that only alert people once danger is near, and shift toward models that anticipate risks, map vulnerable areas and help communities act early. It also argued that spending on resilient infrastructure, forecasting technology, disaster response and community readiness is vital, since extreme weather is becoming more common and severe.