ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Hamza Farukh as the first Chairperson of the Pakistan Climate Change Authority (PCCA), a move aimed at operationalising the country’s climate governance framework.
The appointment was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the Establishment Division issued a formal notification. Farukh has been appointed for a two-year term.
According to information released about his appointment, Hamza Farukh studied at Oxford, Stanford and William & Mary. He has also served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs and has experience in running two startups.
The Pakistan Climate Change Authority was established under the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017. The Authority is mandated to support the formulation and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, coordinate climate-related initiatives and help Pakistan meet its international climate commitments.
The PCCA is headquartered in Islamabad.
Under the law, the Authority comprises a Chairperson and members responsible for areas including climate adaptation, mitigation, climate finance and coordination, along with representatives from the provinces. The Chairperson and members are appointed by the Prime Minister based on their qualifications and experience.
The federal government invited applications for the Chairperson’s position in June 2026. The position was described as responsible for providing strategic direction, oversight and leadership to the Authority and supporting the effective implementation of the Climate Change Act.
The appointment comes as Pakistan continues to strengthen its institutional response to climate-related risks, including floods, heatwaves, droughts, glacier melt and other environmental challenges.
