Federal Minister for Climate Change, Dr. Musadik Malik, on Wednesday announced a federal strategy to remove all illegal and unsafe resorts built along riverbanks, warning that no one will be exempt. “These luxury resorts, whether legal or illegal, are not just buildings. In floods, they turn into missiles that smash through downstream villages, destroying lives and livelihoods, ” he said while speaking at the CIPFA-ICAP Public Financial Management Conference.
Dr. Malik added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered their removal without exceptions. He emphasized that unplanned construction along rivers worsens flood impacts, increasing Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate disasters. “With over 7,000 glaciers feeding our rivers, flash floods and glacial lake bursts are a constant threat. Any structure in their path becomes a tool of destruction,” he warned.
Linking local challenges to global climate responsibility, Malik said that while Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global emissions, it suffers some of the worst impacts. Meanwhile, major economies, responsible for most carbon emissions, control nearly 80 percent of climate funds.
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The minister assured that the federal government will support provinces, including Punjab, Sindh, KP, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and AJK, in improving urban drainage, disaster preparedness, and zoning enforcement. He also noted the need to enhance Pakistan’s technical capacity to secure international climate financing.
“Climate change is real and happening now. Immediate action is needed—illegal riverbank resorts must be removed, cities prepared, and global accountability ensured,” he concluded.
