CPDR convenes green practitioners to inform climate resilience planning in AJK

MIRPUR (AJK) , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point news - 4th May, 2026) The Kashmiri Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms (CPDR) hosted a “Climate Futures Session: Green Practitioners in AJ&K”, bringing together civil society organisations, researchers, journalists and youth representatives working on environmental initiatives across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the organisation said on Monday.

The session, held in Federal capital under CPDR’s broader Climate Futures Initiative, aimed to connect local climate realities with practitioner experience and forward-looking scenario planning to support evidence-based policy dialogue and resilience strategies in the region, its media wing said.

Opening the event, CPDR Executive Director, Irtaza Muhammad said climate resilience in AJK could not be achieved through policy discussions alone and stressed the need to incorporate field experience into planning, coordination and reform efforts.

Huzaifa Khan, programme officer at CPDR, introduced the initiative and outlined its ongoing work to develop climate scenarios for AJK using local data, stakeholder consultations and practitioner insights.

The participants were invited to review draft scenarios and submit feedback.

The session brought together representatives from organisations including Muslim Hands, Hamza Development Foundation, Kashmir Development Foundation, BERD Foundation and the Kashmir Institute of International Relations, alongside youth groups and independent practitioners.

Some participants, including environmental technology expert Dr Fahad Kazmi, joined virtually.

The speakers shared experiences in areas such as waste management, recycling, sustainable water use, climate-smart agriculture and community-based action.

The Muslim Hands presented its work on composting and reusing plastic waste to produce eco-friendly products.

The participants said local environmental initiatives across AJK remain under-supported and face challenges including limited funding, technical capacity and coordination.

They called for better documentation of grassroots innovations and stronger links with policy making processes.

Senior journalist, Jalal ud Din Mughal highlighted the role of storytelling and communication in raising the visibility of local efforts, noting that many initiatives remain overlooked due to weak documentation.

In closing remarks, Dr Shaheen Akhtar , National Defence University emphasised the importance of volunteerism and called for a baseline study on climate change in the liberated stat, along with improved coordination among stakeholders.

The CPDR said insights from the session would inform its climate scenario development, practitioner networking and future policy recommendations for climate-resilient development in the region.

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