Pakistan calls for bankable projects to turn climate pledges into action

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb urged that climate promises be converted into fundable schemes with tangible results, speaking at the Climate Implementation Bridge gathering held in New York as part of the 81st UN General Assembly. Mettis Global reported that he tied progress on the issue to sound policy design, enough money and stronger capacity to deliver projects.

Aurangzeb said Pakistan has advanced its climate policy framework and is seeking funds from domestic sources, international lenders, capital markets and climate funds. He identified fragmented institutions and a lack of projects that investors can finance as major barriers. Discussing the 2022 floods, he noted that part of the foreign assistance pledged had not been used, which underlined the need for suitable projects and better implementation at the national level.

He proposed agreement on practical no-regret steps that would shift the BRIDGE initiative out of discussion and into delivery, with a focus on concrete schemes and results that benefit communities. Aurangzeb's schedule at the UNGA High-Level Week has centred on resilience to climate change, raising funds and ties with other countries.