ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The United States has announced new programs in Pakistan including a four-year US$ 4.5 million “Fertilizer Right” Program from the US Department of Agriculture to strengthen fertilizer efficiency and effectiveness for Pakistani farmers.
The Fertilizer Right Program – to be launched with local partners – will help Pakistani farmers use fertilizer more efficiently and effectively, reducing environmental pollution and lowering costs for farmers.
The announcement was made after the two Countries concluded the Second Meeting of the Climate and Environment Working Group in Islamabad on Thursday.
As per the announcement, the US Army Corps of Engineers will immediately begin sharing snowpack assessments with several Pakistan government agencies to strengthen flood forecasting capacity.
These assessments use satellite imagery and algorithms to estimate snow-covered areas and snowpack water volumes in five major watersheds in Pakistan: Upper Indus, Kabul, Chenab, Sutlej, and Lower Indus.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) also announced new activities in Pakistan to promote Climate-Smart Agriculture and Climate Finance.
The USAID will launch a new five-year Climate Smart Agriculture Program in Pakistan in 2023 to strengthen the resilience of Pakistani farming communities facing climate change.
The activity will facilitate climate-smart farm management practices, increase the use of digital technology, and help grow Pakistani agricultural technology firms.
Similarly, the USAID will launch a Climate Finance Development Accelerator Program in 2023 to mobilize domestic and international finance for expanding clean energy in Pakistan.
It will also catalyze investments for climate mitigation and adaptation efforts through policy reform, awareness raising, and enhancing the role of the private sector.
In addition, the USAID will provide technical assistance to help the government of Pakistan scale up its Voluntary Carbon Market, easing the tracking and trade of carbon credits.
The USAID will facilitate a Rroundtable in Karachi in 2023 around the future of “green” shipping in Pakistan.
The Rroundtable will include Pakistani officials, private sector leaders, and technical experts to identify opportunities for Pakistan to strengthen its future economic competitiveness by preparing for zero-emission shipping operations at its ports.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will support a Pakistani delegation to travel to the United States and join oil, gas, and other sector leaders from emerging economies to meet with the US industry, financial institutions, and policy experts that can help advance their methane emissions reduction and energy security goals.
The USAID will also partner with the private sector on reducing methane emissions in Pakistan’s dairy sector. The project will pilot new interventions to identify effective options for emissions reductions, such as changes in animal feed, reproductive health, and manure management.
The US National Park Service will send a senior park management official to visit Islamabad in 2023 to speak about conservation and engage with officials from Pakistan’s National Parks on best practices for managing protected natural areas.
The US government will offer Pakistani professionals the opportunity to travel to the United States in 2024 to participate in two IVLP exchange programs related to environmental topics. These single-country programs consist of 10-12 Pakistanis per project.
One IVLP will focus on promoting climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices in Pakistan. The other will help Pakistan strengthen preparedness for natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes.
The USAID will launch “Green Gaming Challenge” grants in 2023, seeking applications from Pakistan videogame developers and entrepreneurs that are passionate about mitigating the negative impacts of climate change. The games will promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about environmental issues.
The USTDA is funding a feasibility study grant to improve environmental conditions and waste management practices in Karachi by using advanced technology to convert cattle waste into biomethane – a renewable natural gas – and fertilizer.
The US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will incorporate environmentally conscious designs into infrastructure projects in Pakistan including the installation of solar panels and external solar lights in the Balochistan Police Training College in Quetta, eight border check-posts, and two training centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN), the largest US government exchange alumni network in the world, with 39,000 members, selected “Climate Change: Protecting Local Communities” as its 2023 Country Project to be held across all 14 regional chapters in 2023. This project will strengthen Pakistan’s climate resilience.
