ISLAMABAD: A report on the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP) for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on women in the region, exposing them to intensified risks related to livelihood security, health, education, and personal safety, including an increased likelihood of gender-based violence.

Authored by Ayesha Khan and Huzaifa Khan and published by the Centre for Peace, Development, and Reforms (CPDR), the report was unveiled at a well-attended event sponsored by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to the Paris Agreement by promoting inclusive climate resilience.

During the event, Ayesha and Huzaifa Khan stressed the urgent need for gender-focused policies in Azad Kashmir’s climate strategy, emphasising that gender mainstreaming required sustained commitment to produce meaningful outcomes.

They called for a comprehensive action plan to better equip women in disaster response, especially in light of AJK’s high environmental vulnerability.

The authors pointed out a significant gap in governmental frameworks, which often exclude women from community-level decision-making, limiting effective responses to climate-related crises.

Deputy Executive Director of the Sustainability and Resilience Programme at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr. Shafqat Munir Ahmad praised the report’s in-depth gender analysis, particularly its focus on the cryosphere’s degradation and the critical water resource challenges facing Azad Kashmir.

He also highlighted how the report amplified the voices of AJK’s women, linking them with global movements for climate justice and emphasising their role in advancing nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration through adaptive practices.

Professor Shaheen Akhtar of the National Defence University, Islamabad, commended the report’s potential as a guide for policymakers to strengthen pathways for empowering women in Azad Kashmir’s climate action initiatives.

She noted that the report not only addressed gender disparities in climate resilience but also advocated for women’s active participation in decision-making, which was essential for a more comprehensive and sustainable climate response.

Dr Sheharyar Khan from Iqra University, Islamabad, highlighted the report’s emphasis on prioritising and supporting women, especially vulnerable groups, in climate-sensitive areas. According to Dr Khan, the report offers strategies to train and empower women to build resilience, ensuring they can effectively cope with climate-related disasters and contribute to strengthening community resilience.

In his remarks, General Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at OGDCL Abdur Raziq Khattak expressed a commitment to future support for similar initiatives and encouraged young researchers to contribute innovative climate solutions.

He underscored the importance of community participation in disaster response, which is crucial for developing inclusive and effective strategies.

Wrapping up the event, CPDR’s Executive Director Irtaza Mohammad said the CPDR conducted research’s core aim was to embed gender perspectives into all aspects of climate policies, programmes and strategies within AJK, ensuring equal opportunities for women and men alike.

He said this approach enhanced women’s access to, participation in, and benefits from climate action initiatives across AJK’s governance framework.

The event also featured insights from prominent figures, including author Qaiser Khan, journalist Jalaludin Mughal, Sardar Wasi Tahir Advocate, and student leader Uzair Sarfaraz, all of whom stressed the importance of gender-sensitive climate policies in Azad Kashmir, one of Pakistan’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

The report says Azad Jammu and Kashmir region was highly susceptible to climatic changes and continues to witness environmental volatility.

“What is missing from the policy frameworks of the successive governments and administrative departments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is the inclusion of women at the ground level to face and mitigate climate disasters”, it said.

The report went on to say that Pakistan was one of the 10 most climate-endangered countries in the world and the mountainous north of the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir was one of the most vulnerable areas at risk of climate- induced disasters.

It says economy of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was dependent mostly on climate-sensitive sectors, in particular food, water, energy and forestry.

Climate-related disasters appear to be a key problem in the near future with the potential to negatively impact economic advances of the region made over the last many decades. Floods, droughts, and landslides are common hazards affecting the region.

The national and regional Azad Jammu and Kashmir agenda should be shifted from the strategy of disaster response to a disaster prevention and risk reduction approach.

It calls for implementing gender quota within the AJK Forest Department to enhance women’s participation in policy, planning, and decision-making and suggests training programs that equip women with climate adaptation tools for effective forest and resource management.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024