Islamabad: Experts at a high-level consultative meeting have stressed the urgent need for enhanced inter-sectoral coordination to tackle growing health risks associated with environmental pollution, climate change, and ecological degradation in Pakistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting, held at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, was jointly organized by the Health Services Academy under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC and EC). The event aimed to promote workforce development under the ‘One Health’ approach for pandemic preparedness in Pakistan.

National and international stakeholders, including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and WWF-Pakistan, participated in the session. Discussions focused on integrated strategies to address environmental health and pandemic threats.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dr. Junaid Sarfraz welcomed the participants on behalf of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shehzad Ali Khan of Health Services Academy, while Dr. Tariq Mehmood Ali, National Coordinator of the One Health Project, briefed the participants on the project’s objectives and expected outcomes.

Earlier, the technical session of the meeting was chaired by DG MoCC and EC, Muhammad Asif Shabbir, with experts from WHO, FAO, ADB, World Bank, and WWF-Pakistan presenting actionable recommendations.

Participants concluded the meeting with a collective commitment to transform these consultations into concrete actions. They pledged to work toward a climate-resilient and health-secure Pakistan by investing in integrated surveillance systems and national-level One Health planning.