Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 16 July 2025
UNIC-Islamabad
16 July 2025
_____________
WFP
PRESS RELEASE
PAKISTAN, WFP AND THE GREEN CLIMATE FUND LAUNCH PROJECT TO PROTECT FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITIES
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with the Government of Pakistan and the Green Climate Fund, launched the Integrated Climate Risk Management for Strengthened Resilience to Climate project today through an inception workshop in Islamabad.
The initiative, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with US$ 9.8 million, will directly benefit 1.6 million people in Buner and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, two areas highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
The project aims to protect flood-prone communities from extreme weather by installing early warning systems—such as weather stations and river level monitors—and improving coordination among government departments so alerts reach people faster. Communities will be trained to interpret these warnings, evacuate safely and protect their farms and homes before disasters strike.
At the same time, the project will strengthen the capacity of local institutions—including disaster management authorities, district governments, and emergency response teams—by equipping them with the tools, training and infrastructure needed to respond swiftly to climate-related emergencies.
The workshop was attended by key stakeholders from federal and provincial governments, including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC & EC), the national and provincial disaster management authorities, and relevant planning and development departments.
Just two weeks into the 2025 monsoon season, Pakistan has already experienced deadly impacts, with over 100 lives lost due to heavy rain, flash floods and landslides according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged one-third of the country, with KP province alone suffering over US$ 1.5 billion in loss and damage. Within KP, Buner and Shangla face acute risk due to recurring flash floods, landslides, high poverty rates and limited investment in climate adaptation.
Sameera Sheikh, Joint Secretary of the MoCC & EC, welcomed the initiative, noting its alignment with national priorities. “Pakistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, and the impacts are becoming more intense each year,” Sheikh said. “Initiatives like this are vital to help vulnerable communities in districts such as Buner and Shangla better prepare for and respond to climate shocks like floods and landslides”.
“The Government of KP deeply values the strong collaboration and joint governance established through this initiative,” said Dr. Ehtisham Ulhaq, Chief of the International Development Section of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “This project not only addresses immediate climate risks but also lays the groundwork for long-term resilience and opens doors to future climate finance for our most vulnerable communities.”
“Recurring climate shocks are a driver of hunger and malnutrition, threatening lives, livelihoods and entire food systems,” said Coco Ushiyama, WFP Pakistan Representative and Country Director. “This project represents a multi-layered investment - not only in early warning systems and anticipatory action, but also in local adaptation planning and institutional capacity.”
The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s national policies and KP’s disaster risk management frameworks. It supports GCF Strategic Plan 2024–2027 by addressing urgent adaptation needs in underserved areas, bridging critical capacity gaps in flood preparedness
and reinforcing community resilience.
# # #
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @WFPPakistan
For more information, please contact:
Anam Abbas, WFP/ Islamabad, anam....@wfp.org
UNIC-Islamabad
17 July 2025
_____________
ILO
PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan launches gender pay gap report and national action plan for equal pay
The report analyses the gender pay gap in Pakistan and proposes targeted policies and strategies to close it.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (ILO News) – Stakeholders at the launch of Pakistan’s Gender Pay Gap Report unanimously agreed on short, medium, and long-term objectives and jointly developed a National Action Plan to address the gender pay gap. Participants emphasized that closing these disparities can increase women’s labour force participation and drive inclusive economic growth.
The national workshop—organized by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO)—brought together policymakers, employers, workers’ representatives, and technical experts to identify practical policy and legal reforms to promote equal pay and wage equity.
The report reveals that women in wage employment earn significantly less than men—by approximately 25 to 30 percent, depending on the wage metric. The disparity is especially stark in the informal economy, where the gap widens to 40% due to limited enforcement of labour laws and lack of protections.
It identifies key drivers of this gap, including occupational segregation, informal work, and discriminatory practices. Crucially, much of the gap remains unexplained by observable factors such as education, skills, or occupation—pointing to deep-rooted, systemic inequality. While Pakistan has made some progress, narrowing the gap from 33% in 2018, it continues to lag behind regional peers.
Alongside a detailed legal and policy review, the report offers actionable recommendations for aligning Pakistan’s labour legislation with ILO standards, particularly the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100). The findings aim to support national stakeholders—government, employers, and workers—in crafting coordinated strategies to reduce the gender pay gap and advance social justice in the world of work.
The event convened policymakers, employers, workers’ organizations, members of minimum wage boards, labour inspectors, the national statistics institution, and academia to explore structural barriers that confine women to low-paying roles and limit their career progression.
In his keynote address, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, Federal Secretary, MOPHRD, stated “Pakistan is committed to ensuring equal pay for work of equal value. This report and action plan mark a critical step towards unpacking the barriers that hold women back in the economy. This will help Pakistan move progressively against its obligations as part of the ratified ILO Convention 100 on Equal Remuneration (1951) and Convention 111 on Discrimination (1958).
Geir Tonstol, ILO Country Director for Pakistan, said, “This workshop marks a pivotal step forward—from diagnosing the causes of the gender pay gap to developing a national action plan grounded in practical, scalable solutions. We now have the evidence, the commitment, and the partnerships to move from promise to practice. The ILO stands ready to support Pakistan in advancing fair and transparent wage-setting systems, formalising informal work, and creating real opportunities for women across all sectors.”
Xavier Estupinan, Wage Specialist at ILO Decent Work Team, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said, “The report highlights the ‘sticky floor’ effect—where women are stuck in low-paid, low-mobility jobs, particularly in the informal economy. Addressing this requires adequate wage-setting mechanisms and meaningful social dialogue. Supporting women’s transition to formal work is essential if we are to reduce wage gaps and ensure fairer, more inclusive labour markets.”
Emanuela Pozzan, Senior Specialist in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination at ILO Headquarters, shared international best practices on gender pay equity and extended the support of the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) to stakeholders in Pakistan.
Stakeholders proposed a range of policy and practical measures, including recognizing and valuing women's economic contributions, especially in care sectors, linking jobs to career progression and upskilling, formalizing and regulating women-led supply chains, certifying skills to support women’s transition to formal work and introducing flexible work arrangements to accommodate care responsibilities.
For further information please contact:
Muhammad Numan
Communication Officer
Email: nu...@ilo.org
Mobile: +92 303 5000041
