Pakistan and Türkiye have pledged to forge a deeper strategic partnership on climate resilience, flood management and water security as both countries move to strengthen regional cooperation ahead of the high-stakes UN-led COP31 climate summit to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November this year.
COP31, the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, is expected to focus on implementation of global climate commitments, adaptation financing, loss-and-damage support for vulnerable nations, and accelerated action on climate resilience in the face of worsening extreme weather events worldwide.
The understanding emerged during talks between a high-level Turkish delegation and senior Pakistani officials at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, according to a press release issued here on Friday.
The Turkish delegation, facilitated by T?KA, was led by Maruf Aras, while the Pakistani side was headed by Aisha Humera Moriani.
The delegation included experts from Türkiye’s State Hydraulic Works and General Directorate for Water Management. Discussions focused on integrated flood and river basin management, glacier and avalanche risk reduction, multi-hazard early warning systems, combating desertification, and climate-resilient infrastructure development.
The engagement comes at a time when Pakistan continues to rank among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing recurring floods, droughts, glacial melt and heatwaves, while Türkiye has increasingly expanded its regional role in climate adaptation and disaster resilience initiatives.
Speaking during the meeting, Ms Moriani said climate change had evolved into a major economic and security challenge requiring coordinated global and regional responses.
“Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is an immediate challenge affecting economies, livelihoods and national security. Pakistan values Türkiye’s technical expertise and brotherly support as we work together to build resilient communities, strengthen disaster preparedness and protect vulnerable ecosystems,” she said.
Mr Aras reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan on sustainable land management, water governance and climate adaptation.
“Türkiye considers Pakistan a trusted partner in regional climate action. By combining technical knowledge, innovation and institutional collaboration, both countries can develop sustainable solutions to confront floods, droughts, desertification and other climate-induced risks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ministry’s media spokesperson, Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, said officials from both countries stressed the urgency of scaling up regional cooperation as climate-induced disasters intensify across vulnerable regions of Asia and beyond.
“The two sides also explored collaboration in watershed management, circular economy initiatives, zero-waste models, joint research programmes and technical capacity-building,” Mr Shaikh elaborated.
He said the ministry appreciated Türkiye’s continued support in climate resilience and environmental sustainability, describing the engagement as a major step towards translating bilateral cooperation into practical and scalable climate solutions.
Both countries agreed to intensify coordination ahead of COP31, with a particular focus on adaptation finance, disaster risk reduction and sustainable climate-resilient development, Mr Shaikh added.
