Policy dialogue explores rights-based approaches to climate security in Balochistan

Quetta, 17 June 2026: Funded by the German Embassy in Pakistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan, in partnership with the Government of Balochistan and the University of Balochistan, convened a policy dialogue on "Rights-Based Climate Security in Balochistan: From Local Evidence to Policy Action" in Quetta on 15 June 2026.

Organized under UNDP's Community Stabilization initiative, the dialogue brought together senior provincial officials, academia, civil society, young people, environmental experts, and community representatives from Gwadar to examine climate security as a question of governance, rights, and human development in Balochistan.

H.E. Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Governor of Balochistan, welcomed the dialogue and appreciated the platform in bringing together government, academia, civil society, and frontline communities to advance locally grounded climate action. "A rights-based approach is the need of the hour. It reminds us that climate action must be centered on people. Climate resilience is strongest when citizens are heard, vulnerable communities are protected & public institutions are supported to respond effectively", he said.

Convened against the backdrop of growing climate pressures across the province, discussions focused on how these challenges can be addressed through stronger institutions, more responsive service delivery, and the protection of vulnerable communities.

UNDP's rights-based approach to community stabilization and climate security in Gwadar links community resilience with institutional reform, responsive service delivery, and grievance redress mechanisms for vulnerable and underserved communities. The dialogue brought local evidence from Gwadar into the policy space, highlighting how rising sea levels, water and food insecurity, and pressure on fisheries are reshaping livelihoods and access to services.

Community mediators also shared their experiences in facilitating access to environmental justice, underscoring the importance of treating communities not only as beneficiaries, but as rights-holders and partners in designing climate responses.

In his keynote address, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Bazai, Vice Chancellor at the University of Balochistan, highlighted the role of academia, young people, and provincial institutions in advancing climate resilience and evidence-based policymaking. He underscored the importance of translating the Balochistan Climate Change Policy 2024 into implementation pathways responsive to the province's ecological diversity, social inequalities, and development priorities.

The dialogue also highlighted the gender-climate nexus, emphasizing that gender equality must be integrated into climate policy, finance, and security responses from the outset. Participants noted that climate security is ultimately about protecting lives, rights, and trust, and that stabilization efforts in Balochistan must help communities and institutions manage climate pressures, address grievances, and build resilience without leaving women and girls behind.

A panel discussion on "The Rights-Security Nexus: Climate Governance, Responsible Mining, and Community Stabilization" further examined how climate governance, resource accountability, and community stabilization intersect in Balochistan. Panelists reflected on the need for institutions to anticipate and respond to climate-related grievances in ways that protect rights, strengthen coordination, build public trust, and support peaceful and inclusive development.

Dr. Samuel Rizk, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized that climate security must be grounded in inclusive development and institutional accountability. "Development cannot be for the few who are shielded from the devastating impacts of climate change. It must be for everyone," said Dr. Rizk, reaffirming UNDP's commitment to support people-centered climate action. "A rights-based approach to climate security means strengthening institutions so they can protect development gains, respond to grievances, and deliver services equitably even when calamities strike."

The dialogue forms part of UNDP's broader efforts to support climate resilience, social cohesion, and rights-based development in Balochistan through partnerships with government institutions, academia, civil society, and local communities.

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For further details, please contact:
• Fizza Bangash, Communications Analyst, UNDP Pakistan, at [email protected]

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