Pakistan Proposes to Bring Climate Change Authority Under Ministry Control

The Pakistan federal government has proposed amendments to the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017, which would integrate the Pakistan Climate Change Authority under the Ministry of Climate Change. The bill, introduced in the National Assembly, outlines changes to the authority's composition, powers, and functioning. The Pakistan Climate Change Council, currently the apex climate policy body, would see members from the ministers of industries and health, the prime minister of AJK, and the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The number of non-official council members would be reduced from 20 to 15, including climate change experts, scientists, researchers, academics and private sector representatives. The bill also seeks to reduce the minimum number of council meetings from two to one annually. The authority's membership would be expanded from nine to 12, with representation from AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The chairperson of the authority would serve a two-year term, with the possibility of an additional two-year extension at the prime minister's discretion. The proposed changes aim to restructure Pakistan's climate governance institutions. The bill is currently subject to the legislative process and requires approval by Parliament before the amendments can take effect.

Under the current act, the Pakistan Climate Change Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, operates independently of the Ministry of Climate Change.