Pakistan Secures $10 Million for Indus River Climate Project

Pakistan has received USD 10 million from the Adaptation Fund to enhance water resource management in the Indus River through nature-based solutions. The Sustainable Actions for Ecosystems Restoration in Pakistan (SAFER) project aims to build resilience in vulnerable communities, particularly focusing on women, children, and youth, over the next three-and-a-half years.

Pakistan has secured USD 10 million in climate finance to bolster water resource management in the Indus River. The funding, approved by the Adaptation Fund Board, aims to integrate nature-based solutions, focusing on benefiting local communities.

The project, known as Sustainable Actions for Ecosystems Restoration in Pakistan (SAFER), was announced by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). SAFER will target water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, emphasizing community resilience and aiming to align with Pakistan’s National Adaptation Plan and the Living Indus Initiative.

With large portions of Pakistan's population and economy reliant on the Indus Basin, the project plans to implement climate-resilient water infrastructure in vulnerable regions like Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. Key approaches include community-based early warning systems and groundwater recharge facilities.