ISLAMABAD, November 3, 2026: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), through its Climate Resilience Program, in collaboration with Secours Islamique France (SIF-Pakistan), organised a Pre-COP31 dialogue in Islamabad to discuss global priorities and Pakistan’s preparedness on food security, water management and climate resilience.
The dialogue, titled “Food–Water–Climate Nexus: Global Priorities for Resilience, Partnerships and Collective Action,” brought together senior government officials, international development partners, policymakers and climate experts to identify key priorities ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye.
The proceedings opened with welcome remarks by Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, followed by opening remarks from Dr Altaf Abro, Head of Mission at SIF-Pakistan.
Other speakers included Thomas Conan, Deputy Country Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Pakistan; Muhammad Arif Goheer, Executive Director of the Global Climate-Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC); and Ahmed Kamal, water resources expert and former Chairman of the Federal Flood Commission.
Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, delivered the keynote address, while Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain shared special remarks on advancing Pakistan’s food security priorities through COP31.
Focus on climate-smart agriculture and water security
The discussions highlighted the need to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water management and climate-smart irrigation practices. Participants also stressed the importance of improving early-warning systems, expanding access to climate finance, promoting technology transfer and strengthening international cooperation.
Speakers emphasised that scientific evidence and policy commitments must be translated into practical measures, particularly to protect vulnerable communities and strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to cope with climate-related risks.
The dialogue also highlighted the interconnected nature of food security, water availability and climate change, calling for coordinated approaches to address these challenges.
The event concluded with remarks by Dr Anjum Rasheed, Head of the Climate Resilience Program at IRS, who underscored the importance of sustained policy engagement, collective action and stronger partnerships in advancing Pakistan’s climate resilience agenda.
Through the initiative, IRS and SIF-Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to evidence-based policy dialogue and strategic partnerships aimed at supporting sustainable development and building a food-secure, water-secure and climate-resilient Pakistan.
