ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Nations have agreed to launch a joint project to curb illegal activities harming the environment and the economy, state media reported on Thursday, as Islamabad finds ways to mitigate future disasters brought about by climate change. 

A deadly monsoon season since late June that saw torrential rains and the melting of glaciers killed over 1,000 people across Pakistan. Over 22,000 livestock were killed and 2.2 million acres of crops were washed away, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Experts have linked Pakistan’s frequent and irregular weather patterns to climate change effects. 

Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik met Troels Vester, the country representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Islamabad to discuss matters related to the environment and the economy, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

“Both sides agreed to develop a joint project aimed at improving inter-agency coordination and modernizing laws and enforcement mechanisms to curb illegal activities impacting the environment and economy,” the state media said. 

Vester acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment to addressing environmental crimes and reaffirmed UNODC’s full support in this area, Radio Pakistan said. 

According to the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, environmental crimes encompass a broad list of illicit activities, including illegal trade in wildlife, smuggling of ozone-depleting substances (ODS); illicit trade of hazardous waste; illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; and illegal logging and trade in timber. 

Pakistan has stepped up efforts in recent years to tackle environmental crimes through stronger legislation, institutional reforms and international cooperation. The government has launched drives against illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and industrial pollution, while provincial environment agencies have stepped up inspections and launched tree plantation drives. 

Pakistan has also introduced the National Clean Air Policy, tightened penalties under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act and adopted digital systems to monitor emissions and waste. 

Despite contributing less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is considered one of the worst affected countries due to climate change. The South Asian country has suffered from heatwaves, droughts, torrential rains and floods over the past recent years. 

Experts warn unless the government takes preventive measures, climate change effects in Pakistan can intensify in the coming years.