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The document argues that CPEC's first decade has failed to deliver broad-based development or stability in Pakistan, as state-led growth has not reduced conflict or poverty. It highlights how domestic political fragmentation, weak governance, and security threats—including attacks on Chinese personnel—have hindered progress. The brief notes a shift in Chinese strategy from government-to-government loans to business-to-business collaboration and warns that Pakistan's strategic balancing between China and the US complicates alignment. It concludes that the top-down, centralized approach has led to uneven benefits, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and recommends more inclusive, transparent, and community-based development strategies for the next phase.

An event attribution study by World Weather Attribution found that human-induced climate change, primarily from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, has increased the intensity of 30-day maximum rainfall in northern Pakistan by approximately 15%. The study highlights that while the event had a return period of about five years, the resulting high death toll—300 fatalities nationwide as of August 3, 2025, including 140 children—was exacerbated by rapid urbanization, informal settlements, and poor building code enforcement. The report emphasizes a significant funding gap for adaptation, noting that Pakistan requires US$152 billion for adaptation between 2023 and 2030, much of which remains unfinanced.

The Zu Peshawar project replaced an unreliable, private transport patchwork with a state-of-the-art Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system designed for inclusivity. By incorporating gender-sensitive features and accessibility tools, the system significantly increased female ridership from 2% to 20% and provided step-free access for wheelchair users. The project also included a Bus Industry Restructuring Program to transition former operators into formal employment with better conditions. Utilizing diesel-hybrid buses to reduce emissions, the system serves an average of 250,000 passengers daily and has inspired other Pakistani cities to upgrade their transit infrastructure.

The report 'Together for Safety 21 Ways Forward' outlines strategies for urban leaders to combat extremism and polarisation, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies trends such as the 'gamification of extremism' and the use of conspiracy theories by right-wing and jihadist groups to target minorities and youth. The document provides 21 guiding principles across four themes: preventing extremism post-pandemic, countering online hate, securing public spaces, and empowering youth. Key recommendations include adopting evidence-based 'hot spot mapping', investing in youth-led organisations, and strengthening mental health initiatives to build community resilience.

Pakistan faces a severe water security crisis driven by its reliance on transboundary freshwater sources, climate change, and poor management, with predictions of absolute water scarcity by 2025. This insecurity manifests as declining agricultural productivity, public health crises due to contaminated water, and social unrest in cities like Karachi. The document highlights that these vulnerabilities, alongside tensions with India over the Indus Basin Water Treaty, create fertile ground for insurgency and instability, thereby increasing risks to U.S. foreign policy and security interests. It recommends that the U.S. provide technical support for groundwater monitoring, facilitate water pricing systems, and promote soft engineering solutions like wetlands.

The document assesses the potential for photovoltaic (PV) panels to address energy shortages in Sialkot's industrial sector through a NAMA framework. It finds that PV panels could save industries an average of US$27,400 annually and mitigate 377,000 tons of CO2, offering a more cost-effective and less carbon-intensive alternative to diesel generators. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement and the role of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry in driving subnational action, while noting a lack of capacity and engagement from the national government.

The author draws parallels between the antisemitic propaganda of the 1920s and 30s and contemporary Islamophobia in Germany, specifically citing the rhetoric used against Muslims in the Neukölln district of Berlin and by groups like Pegida. The text highlights a rise in violence, including the burning of mosques in Germany and Sweden, and calls for political leaders and media editors to recognize Islamophobia as a form of racism. It promotes the Salaam-Schalom Initiative as a model for peaceful coexistence between Jewish, Muslim, and migrant communities.

Return migration to Pakistan is highly diverse, ranging from the lifestyle-driven back-and-forth mobility of naturalized citizens from Europe to the forced return of irregular migrants via deportations and assisted voluntary return programmes. While the country relies heavily on remittances—receiving 18.4 billion USD in financial year 2014—returnees often face a context of instability, poor living conditions, and a lack of trust in state institutions due to corruption and nepotism. The Pakistani government's approach to return migration has primarily focused on short-term laborers from the Middle East and the promotion of formal remittance channels, leaving the needs of other diaspora groups largely unaddressed and the country's broader socioeconomic potential untapped.

The document details CDKN's support for Pakistan, focusing on three main areas: climate-resilient reconstruction in Punjab, the development of a national disaster risk insurance strategy, and technical capacity building for UNFCCC COP negotiations. It also highlights the launch of Pakistan's National Climate Change Policy in February 2013, which prioritizes adaptation in water, agriculture, and forestry, while addressing mitigation and disaster preparedness.

The report identifies a significant gap between the environmental focus of the Sarhad Province Conservation Strategy (SPCS) and the immediate social priorities of local stakeholders, such as poverty and food security. It highlights critical deficiencies in data collection, noting a lack of systematic monitoring for water and air quality and the absence of provincial macroeconomic data. The author argues that the current centralized data system is inadequate for sustainable development monitoring and recommends a phased, decentralized approach using simple, action-oriented indicators to guide implementation.

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change despite contributing only 0.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The document outlines the need for Pakistan to align its climate adaptation and mitigation strategies with national development plans to secure funding and political buy-in. Key priorities include developing a National Adaptation Plan (NAP), updating greenhouse gas inventories for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and engaging the private sector, particularly in solar power.

The transport sector in Pakistan is projected to see a 128% increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2030, rising from 35.4 MtCO2e to 80.7 MtCO2e. The document identifies several mitigation strategies, prioritizing efficiency norms for passenger vehicles, road-to-rail transfers, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and improved car maintenance. Efficiency norms for passenger cars, taxis, and vans are identified as the highest priority, with a potential reduction of 7.45 MtCO2e by 2030. Shifting freight and passengers from road to rail is another key strategy, though rail's share of freight has dropped to under 1%, with a national target of 20%. The expansion of BRT systems in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, and Multan is also highlighted as a means to improve urban mobility and reduce emissions.

Pakistan's NDC 3.0 sets a voluntary target to reduce projected 2035 greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, with 17% achieved unconditionally and 33% conditional on receiving USD 565.7 billion in international climate finance. The plan integrates mitigation across energy, transport, and agriculture with a comprehensive adaptation strategy based on the 2023 National Adaptation Plan. Key priorities include transitioning to a renewable-dominant power mix, expanding electric vehicle adoption, and implementing large-scale nature-based solutions like the Recharge Pakistan programme. The document emphasizes a 'just transition' for the workforce and the integration of gender, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) into climate action.

To mitigate the impact of extreme weather and forest fires on biodiversity in Islamabad, WWF-Pakistan installed 500 artificial nest boxes across 33 sites. These boxes, designed to Cornell Lab standards, target species like woodpeckers and owls whose natural nesting cavities are being degraded. In the first season, 91 boxes were occupied, with the common myna being the most frequent occupant.