Rs916 million climate capacity project questioned alongside new AI authority

The government is planning a new climate authority to own civilian climate data and build artificial intelligence and machine

Islamabad: The government is planning a new climate authority to own civilian climate data and build artificial intelligence and machine learning capacity. Meanwhile, a separate Rs916 million project is already strengthening technical capacity in the Ministry of Climate Change, raising questions in the Senate about overlapping functions and the need for better coordination.

These details emerged before the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change during a discussion on Pakistan’s climate risks, artificial intelligence, digital mapping and a proposed Climate University programme. Officials told the committee that several government institutions currently handle different parts of the climate system, creating a need to connect their information and expertise through a common system.

According to the briefing, water related matters are handled by the Ministry of Water Resources, weather systems are under the Pakistan Meteorological Department, satellite related matters are handled by SUPARCO and disaster management is primarily the responsibility of the National Disaster Management Authority. Officials said this division of responsibilities has fragmented climate data and response systems.

The government is considering two ways to improve the situation. One proposal is to establish a virtual platform through which climate information held by different institutions can be shared in real time. The second proposal is to establish a new authority that would own civilian climate data and develop artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

Officials said the proposed system could also create digital models of identified Glacial Lake Outburst Flood locations. They said about 2,700 GLOF locations have been identified and the government wants to model how water would move if a lake bursts, which communities could be affected and what routes could be used for evacuation. The proposed digital models would use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve risk planning.

The committee, however, questioned whether the country is creating overlapping structures. The chairperson asked officials how the proposed authority would relate to existing bodies and questioned whether another organisation was being created alongside the ministry. Officials replied that the proposed changes would give the authority a more limited role as a think tank reporting directly to the Ministry of Climate Change.

The discussion became more significant when Dr. Musadik Masood Malik , Federal Minister. Ministry of Climate Change disclosed that a Rs916 million project is already being used to strengthen technical capacity in the ministry. The project includes hiring 27 people to provide the expertise needed by the ministry. The committee chairperson questioned why such a large capacity building project was continuing while a new authority was also being developed for similar climate expertise. Officials replied that the ministry currently needs the expertise and that the project would have to be reviewed as the proposed authority becomes stronger.

Dr. Musadik Malik also explained that work was already under way to build the new artificial intelligence capability. He said people with specialised education and experience were being hired. One proposed authority chairman had been selected, according to the briefing, but his notification had not yet been issued although his summary had been approved. Officials said he has a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Stanford, has worked on artificial intelligence applications and also holds business and undergraduate degrees from Stanford, Oxford and Williams College.

The proposed authority is being presented as a body that would support the Ministry of Climate Change with specialist knowledge and research. Officials said the authority would directly report to the ministry and build expertise in climate and environmental matters.

The committee also discussed the government’s proposed Climate University, also called the Green University programme. The Minister of Climate Change told the committee that the programme would focus on green skills, knowledge systems, student exchanges, faculty exchanges and joint research.

Officials said Pakistan had already signed an agreement with Italy and Italian universities. The initial programme would begin with short term exchanges for students and graduates and could later expand to master’s and PhD exchanges as well as faculty exchanges.

Another programme is being developed with Iceland and other countries linked to the Arctic Circle. Officials told the committee that a special session on Climate Universities had been arranged and that universities in Arctic Circle countries could work with universities in Gilgit Baltistan on joint research in glaciology, including master’s programmes, PhD programmes and faculty exchanges.

Pakistan has also signed the Green Compact with the United Kingdom and added a Green University component to that programme. Officials said the three programmes together would support student and faculty exchanges and would not require a physical university campus or a new charter because the plan is based on academic cooperation and exchanges.

The government is also planning to support climate related startups. Officials told the committee that a 9 million dollar fund had been almost finalised to support businesses working on climate and green technologies. A separate funding amount of about Rs1 billion was also mentioned for startup support.

Officials said the programme would seek to support young Pakistani talent coming from universities including NUST, LUMS and Aga Khan University, particularly students working in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud technology and other new fields. The aim is to provide capital to businesses that can develop climate related technologies and become commercially successful.

The committee, however, stressed that startup projects should not disappear after their initial funding ends. The chairperson pointed out that many projects supported through skill fairs and similar programmes continue for only a few months and then stop growing. She urged the government to identify strong projects and help them scale up so that public and private investment produces lasting results.

The government said the Green University programme, artificial intelligence work and startup funding were part of a wider attempt to create stronger climate related skills, research and technology in Pakistan.

The discussion also showed that officials see artificial intelligence as a tool for climate risk monitoring, especially in areas where large amounts of data are difficult to collect. A recommendation presented to the committee called for AI and machine learning to be used to improve data assessment in difficult and remote areas.