Federal authorities introduced a bill in the National Assembly to shift the Pakistan Climate Change Authority under the direct control of the Ministry of Climate Change. This legislation forms part of broader modifications to the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017, altering how national climate institutions operate, function, and hold power.
Lawmakers tabled a measure placing the operational duties and authority of the agency inside the administrative structure of the ministry, alongside adjustments regarding the Pakistan Climate Change Council.
The draft legislation adds the federal ministers for health and industries to the council roster. Additional seats go to the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan.
Non-official council seats drop from 20 down to 15 under the measure. Academics, scientists, climate experts, researchers, and private sector delegates make up these positions.
Mandatory annual council gatherings decrease from a minimum of two sessions down to just one each year. Conversely, the council gains broader authority to issue orders protecting biodiversity, wildlife, and forests.
Authority membership expands from nine up to 12 individuals, including delegates from Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The chairperson will hold a two-year post, which the prime minister can extend for another two years.
Parliamentary approval remains necessary before these changes take effect. Right now, the Pakistan Climate Change Council acts as the top climate policy entity led by the prime minister rather than functioning under the ministry.
