ISLAMABAD — The Ambassador of the United States in Islamabad, Donald Blome, addressed the launch of the “Recharge Pakistan” initiative at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) on Tuesday. The ambitious climate project aims to improve flood resilience and enhance water security across Pakistan’s vulnerable regions.
Ambassador Blome began his remarks by acknowledging PIPS, an independent research and training facility for parliamentarians established with U.S. funding. He emphasized the institute’s significant role in educating and supporting Pakistani lawmakers through extensive training and policy research.
The “Recharge Pakistan” initiative, which has received a $5 million contribution from the United States, tackles critical water management challenges exacerbated by climate change. Groundwater, crucial for drinking water, agriculture, and livestock, is threatened as climate change disrupts natural recharge processes. Ambassador Blome likened groundwater to a battery powering essential life functions that are increasingly unable to recharge due to changing environmental conditions.
The project will deploy a network of green infrastructure solutions to rehabilitate floodwater channels, restore wetlands, and improve soil water absorption. Expected outcomes include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 53,000 tons of CO2, creating 127 new groundwater storage basins, and reducing flooding hazards across 50,000 hectares. The initiative is projected to benefit approximately 687,000 people directly and over seven million indirectly in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.
The envoy highlighted the historical U.S.-Pakistan partnership in water management, citing collaborative projects like the Mangla and Tarbela dams. He underscored recent efforts under the U.S.-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework, focusing on renewable energy, smart agriculture, and water management.
“Recharge Pakistan” builds on this longstanding partnership and represents a further commitment to addressing climate change impacts. The initiative comes in response to Pakistan’s severe climate crisis, including the devastating 2022 floods and the effects of rising temperatures on glaciers and agriculture.
Blome commended the efforts of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and other partners for their role in planning and implementing the project. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan in building a greener, more climate-resilient future.
The launch event marked a significant step in the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and Pakistan, aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and promote sustainable development in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
