KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading architects, planners, public health specialists, development experts, and senior government representatives gathered in Karachi for the Aga Khan University’s (AKU) Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) Annual Conference 2025 to explore how climate-resilient cities, homes, and communities can be designed in the face of rapidly intensifying climate pressures.
The event, held in partnership with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Pakistan, focused on this year’s theme: “Climate change and the built environment: Promoting resilience & adaptation in low-income settings.”
A national dialogue on climate resilience, vulnerability
In a message read at the inauguration, His Highness the Aga Khan underscored the profound human consequences of climate change, calling it “one of the greatest threat multipliers of our era.” He emphasized that its impacts — including disease, malnutrition, displacement, learning loss, and poverty — fall most heavily on women, children, older adults, and marginalized communities.
He further highlighted that meaningful climate progress “will depend on partnership,” welcoming collaborators from Pakistan, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
The inaugural session featured Chief Guest His Excellency Tariq Khan, High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, and a special message from Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, who addressed participants virtually.
“Canada is helping countries like Pakistan confront climate-driven vulnerabilities,” said His Excellency Tariq Khan. “The ideas shared at this conference can help shape a more sustainable future for millions of people.”
Professor Ahsan Iqbal reiterated that “building resilience is not optional — it is a national development priority,” emphasizing the importance of redesigning homes, neighbourhoods, and public institutions to withstand rising climate threats.
“Conferences like this help translate research into policies that enable safer, more inclusive, and climate-adaptive environments for all Pakistanis,” he added.
Keynotes spotlight indigenous solutions, climate-smart design
The conference opened with high-impact keynote presentations from Professor Sajida Haider Vandal (THAAP), Christopher Burman and Joseph Augustine (UCL), and Dr Zahra Hussain (Laajverd).
Their sessions highlighted:
- Climate-smart and sustainable architectural models
- Indigenous and culturally rooted design approaches
- Community-led innovations for climate adaptation
AKU reaffirms commitment to national climate resilience
Addressing the gathering, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, emphasized the University’s responsibility to generate evidence-based solutions that support climate adaptation at scale.
“Climate change is reshaping every aspect of life in Pakistan. Our responsibility as a university is to help the country design smarter, safer, more resilient environments,” he said.
The road ahead: Policy, community innovation, and rural resilience
The inaugural session set the stage for a full conference programme featuring discussions on:
- Rural adaptation models
- Climate-resilient health systems
- Indigenous design innovations
- Community-led resilience
A national policy panel engaging senior decision-makers
The IGHD Annual Conference 2025 marks an important step toward strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to redesign its built environment and safeguard vulnerable communities against escalating climate risks.
