Pakistan, Azerbaijan join hands on climate resilient, sustainable urban planning

ZANGILAN, AZERBAIJAN: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have joined forces to tackle the challenges of climate resilience and sustainable urban planning, recognizing the pressing issues facing their respective regions.

This collaborative effort was formalised during a meeting between Caretaker Planning Minister for Development & Special Initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed and Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan Anar Guliyev, held on Sunday.

The caretaker planning minister is currently on an official visit to attend the Second Azerbaijan National Urban Forum & Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2023.

The forum, themed “Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities,” is organized by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

This event is a part of the Azerbaijan Urban Week and is taking place in Zangilan.

During his meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, the caretaker planning minister expressed his appreciation for the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts led by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, particularly in conflict-affected areas of Azerbaijan.

He emphasized the significant challenges posed by urban planning and underscored the importance of forums like the Azerbaijan National Urban Forum in seeking solutions and learning from international experiences.

It is worth noting that the first National Urban Forum was held last year in the city of Aghdam, which had suffered total destruction but is now undergoing extensive reconstruction efforts. The second forum is being hosted in Zangilan, a region that is currently undergoing comprehensive reconstruction along with the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Both parties have agreed to enhance the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan by jointly exploring strategies for socioeconomic development in both countries.

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The caretaker planning minister commended the government of Azerbaijan for the successful organization of the Second National Urban Forum, emphasizing its crucial role in the reconstruction of devastated cities under the theme of “Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities.”

During the meeting, Pakistan’s caretaker planning minister highlighted the recently launched Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) for Pakistan Floods 2022, which is playing a pivotal role in establishing resilient infrastructure.

It is worth noting that since the floods of 2022, the planning ministry has been approving climate-resilient development projects and has directed provinces to strictly adhere to these standards. Two Pakistani provinces, Sindh and Balochistan, were severely affected by the floods, impacting 33 million people. However, with the assistance of the international community, Pakistan successfully managed the situation.