By Sultan Shoaib GILGIT, Nov 05 (APP):Canada, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Aga Khan Foundation have launched major initiatives worth CAD $35 million to strengthen climate resilience, restore livelihoods and improve healthcare services in vulnerable communities across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiatives were launched by Canada's High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Tarik Ali Khan, during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday. The High Commissioner formally launched the …
Canada, UNFPA, Aga Khan Foundation launch $35m initiatives for climate resilience, healthcare in Pakistan
By Sultan Shoaib
GILGIT, Nov 05 (APP):Canada, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Aga Khan Foundation have launched major initiatives worth CAD $35 million to strengthen climate resilience, restore livelihoods and improve healthcare services in vulnerable communities across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan.
The initiatives were launched by Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Tarik Ali Khan, during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday.
The High Commissioner formally launched the “Recovery and Climate Resilience in Flood-Affected Areas of Pakistan (RENEW),” a CAD $15 million project being implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation. The initiative aims to support vulnerable mountain and coastal communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and Sindh’s Thatta and Badin districts in recovering from seasonal floods and building resilience against climate change and future disasters.
The project will focus on rehabilitating damaged irrigation systems, restoring agricultural land, providing seeds, tools and livestock, and promoting climate-smart and organic farming practices. It will also support vocational training, youth development and women-led entrepreneurship through the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme’s “START-Apna Karobar” initiative.
Under another initiative, the High Commissioner announced CAD $50,000 in emergency assistance through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation and FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan. The assistance will provide food and essential winterization items to 123 disaster-affected households in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, particularly benefiting women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
During his visit to Shigar, the Canadian High Commissioner also launched “Sehat Ka Safar,” a CAD $20 million multi-year initiative jointly implemented by UNFPA and the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan to improve reproductive, maternal and adolescent healthcare services in underserved districts of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Tarik Ali Khan said Canada had been a longstanding partner of Pakistan during crises, adding that climate change and recent floods had damaged infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods and increased climate-related risks for millions of people.
He said Canada was working with its partners to help affected communities recover and build back better through sustainable development and climate resilience initiatives.
Jamil Uddin, General Manager of AKRSP, said the RENEW project built on the longstanding partnership between Global Affairs Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation, combining the expertise of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its partners.
He said the project would benefit around 690,000 people across 14 flood-affected districts by strengthening essential services and livelihoods and promoting locally led solutions, particularly for women and girls.
Dr. Gulnara Kydyrkulova, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, said the organization was pleased to continue its partnership with Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation to improve the lives of women, girls and children across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
She said the “Sehat Ka Safar” initiative would expand access to quality healthcare and education while empowering women and families with the knowledge and services needed to make informed decisions about their health and future.
