Pakistan, Azerbaijan join hands for resilient, sustainable urban planning

Islamabad: Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Sunday agreed to promote cooperation in Climate Resilient and Sustainable Urban Planning in view of the real challenges being faced by the region.

An understanding to this effect came during a meeting between Caretaker Planning Minister for Development & Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed and Chairman State Committee on Urban Planning & Architecture, Azerbaijan Anar Guliyev on Sunday.

Both the leaders also agreed to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries by exploring joint strategies for socioeconomic development of the people of both countries. It was mutually acknowledged that Urban Planning is a real challenge and forums like Azerbaijan National Urban are much needed to find out solutions, while learning from the international experiences and for chalking out a collective way forward.

Speaking on the occasion, the Planning Minister appreciated the government of Azerbaijan for conducting a successful Second National Urban Forum which plays a vital role in the reconstruction of destroyed cities with the theme of “Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities.

He also highlighted the recently launched Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) for Pakistan Floods 2022 which is playing a vital role in making a resilient infrastructure.

The Planning Minister also appreciated the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts undertaken by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture in conflict affected areas of Azerbaijan.

It is noted that since Flood 2022, the Planning Ministry has been approving climate resilient development projects while directing the provinces to follow it strictly. Pakistan’s two provinces Sindh and Balochistan were badly hot by the flood affected 33 million people. However, Pakistan successfully coped with the situation with the help of the international community.

The Planning Minister is on an official visit to the Second Azerbaijan National Urban Forum & Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2023, themed "Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighting inequalities," organized by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Zangilan as part of the Azerbaijan Urban Week.