ISLAMABAD: A high-level stakeholder consultation on ‘Capacity Development for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure’ (CD-CRI) was held in Islamabad, bringing together engineering leaders, disaster risk authorities and development partners to discuss strengthening Pakistan’s public infrastructure against climate and disaster risks.
The consultation was organised by Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK) Japan in partnership with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and in consultation with Dr Qasier Ali Associates.
Participants included PEC Chairman Wasim Nazir, NDRMF Chief Executive Officer Bilal Anwar, Dr Nicolai Dellmann of GIZ and Alex Forbes of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, among other stakeholders from engineering, government and development sectors.
A key feature of the event was a technical session introducing a data-driven Structural Health Assessment (SHA) system aligned with the Building Code of Pakistan 2021. The system is designed to digitise the evaluation of public buildings for safety and resilience.
Speakers highlighted the need to bridge gaps between policy frameworks, engineering practice and community-level needs.
The consultation also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between KnK Japan, PEC and NDRMF, formalising cooperation to promote resilience in infrastructure development across the country.
Speaking at the event, PEC Chairman Mr Nazir said the initiative marked a shift from viewing resilience as a concept to implementing it in practice. He noted that digital tools and structured assessments could help strengthen engineering standards and improve decision-making.
Organisers said the CD-CRI initiative introduces a digital, GIS-enabled platform for structural assessments aimed at enhancing transparency and supporting evidence-based planning. The system is expected to be piloted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, in alignment with national building codes.
They emphasised that the initiative also focuses on institutional capacity-building, with PEC and NDRMF playing key technical roles in sustaining the system. The programme includes training engineers, certifying professionals in resilient construction standards and encouraging greater participation of women in technical decision-making processes.
The initiative is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, with the aim of strengthening local expertise and embedding climate resilience in Pakistan’s infrastructure planning frameworks.
Participants described the consultation as a step toward integrating climate risk considerations into the assessment and development of schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure across the country.
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