Canada, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Aga Khan Foundation have launched development initiatives worth a combined CAD 35 million to support climate resilience, restore livelihoods and improve healthcare services in vulnerable communities across Pakistan. The programmes were formally launched by Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan, during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan. The funding package includes a CAD 15 million project focused on flood recovery and climate resilience, alongside a CAD 20 million multi-year healthcare initiative targeting underserved communities. The activities will cover areas including Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and parts of Sindh, with particular attention to women, girls and children. The initiatives build on commitments announced during Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s visit to Pakistan in July 2026 and bring together development partners to address challenges related to recurring floods, climate risks, agricultural livelihoods and access to essential health services. Through these programmes, the partners aim to support communities affected by environmental pressures while improving the availability of services and opportunities in regions with limited resources.
The CAD 15 million initiative, titled Recovery and Climate Resilience in Flood-Affected Areas of Pakistan (RENEW), is being implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation. It is designed to support vulnerable mountain and coastal communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and Sindh’s Thatta and Badin districts as they recover from seasonal flooding and prepare for future climate-related emergencies. The project will focus on restoring agricultural productivity through the rehabilitation of damaged irrigation systems and the reclamation of land affected by floods. It will also provide seeds, farming tools and livestock to help households resume agricultural activities and improve food security. In addition, the programme will promote climate-smart and organic farming practices while supporting enterprise development, vocational training and employment opportunities for young people. Women-led businesses and entrepreneurship activities will receive attention through the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme’s START-Apna Karobar initiative. According to Jamil Uddin, General Manager of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, RENEW is expected to reach approximately 690,000 people across 14 flood-affected districts. The programme will combine the expertise of the Aga Khan Development Network and its partners to support locally led recovery and strengthen essential services and livelihoods.
Alongside the larger climate initiative, the Canadian High Commissioner announced CAD 50,000 in emergency assistance through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The support is being provided in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan and FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan. It will deliver food assistance and essential winterisation supplies to 123 households affected by disasters in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The assistance is intended to help vulnerable families meet immediate requirements and reduce exposure to cold-related risks while longer-term recovery activities continue. Women, girls, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are among the groups expected to benefit from the intervention. During his visit to Shigar, Tarik Ali Khan also launched Sehat Ka Safar, a CAD 20 million multi-year healthcare initiative implemented jointly by UNFPA and the Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan. The programme will focus on improving reproductive, maternal and adolescent health services in underserved districts. Its activities are intended to expand access to quality healthcare and education, particularly for women, girls and children in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr Gulnara Kydyrkulova said the initiative would work alongside the Government of Pakistan to improve access to essential health services and provide families with information and support to make informed decisions about their health.
The combined initiatives reflect Canada’s continued development partnership with Pakistan, particularly in communities facing climate-related disruptions and gaps in essential services. Tarik Ali Khan said recent flooding and climate change had damaged infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods and increased risks for vulnerable populations, making coordinated recovery and resilience efforts important for long-term development. The RENEW project will address some of these challenges through agricultural rehabilitation, livelihood support and disaster preparedness, while Sehat Ka Safar will focus on healthcare needs that particularly affect women, adolescents and children. The involvement of UNFPA and the Aga Khan Foundation also brings together specialised experience in health services, community development and humanitarian assistance. By linking immediate winter support with longer-term programmes, the partners are addressing both urgent household needs and broader development priorities. The initiatives are expected to support communities in multiple regions, with a focus on locally driven activities and improved access to resources. Their implementation will be important in determining how effectively the funding translates into restored livelihoods, stronger climate preparedness and expanded healthcare access for underserved populations across Pakistan.
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