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NEW YORK, September 22, 2026: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for faster access to international climate finance as Pakistan seeks greater support for disaster resilience and climate adaptation.
Aurangzeb made the remarks during a series of high-level engagements on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
His discussions covered climate finance, digital cooperation and the COP31 Action Agenda. He stressed the need to turn Pakistan’s climate commitments into practical and investable projects.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s “Financing Planet and Prosperity” meeting, Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
He pointed in particular to floods that have damaged infrastructure and affected communities.
The finance minister outlined efforts to improve disaster-response systems and early-warning mechanisms. He also highlighted costed climate-investment plans.
Aurangzeb said international assistance must work alongside domestic resources and stronger fiscal buffers.
Pakistan has also mobilised financing through institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. International capital markets have also supported relief, adaptation and reconstruction efforts.
However, the minister urged international climate funds to improve access to financing.
He called on the Green Climate Fund and Loss and Damage Fund to simplify procedures and speed up disbursements.
Aurangzeb also highlighted Pakistan’s transition towards a regulated virtual-assets framework.
He spoke at the “United Nations Digital Cooperation Day 2026 – Blockchain and the Tokenised Future: Sovereign Choices and Safeguards for Next-Gen DPI” in New York.
The finance minister said tokenisation should address real economic needs.
These include cheaper remittances, SME financing, sovereign debt and wider financial access.
Aurangzeb also called for safeguards around private-sector innovation.
He said strong state oversight, inclusive digital infrastructure and international cooperation should support digital development.
The minister further stressed that emerging economies should have a role in shaping global digital standards.
Pakistan has recently taken steps to develop a more structured virtual-assets ecosystem. In September, the chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority briefed Aurangzeb on international practices involving digital assets, stablecoins, compliance and blockchain technology.
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Aurangzeb also participated in the launch of the COP31 Action Agenda.
He expressed Pakistan’s support for the initiative and said it aligned with the country’s climate priorities and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0.
The priorities include clean energy and electrification, renewable-energy expansion and energy-efficient buildings.
They also cover climate-resilient cities, climate education, food security and climate-resilient agriculture.
Aurangzeb welcomed the proposed Climate Implementation Bridge.
He described it as a mechanism for turning climate commitments into “investable and bankable projects”.
The minister said the main challenge was no longer developing climate plans. Instead, he stressed the need for effective implementation and measurable results.
He also welcomed the agenda’s action points and key performance indicators.
The COP31 presidency has described its Action Agenda as an implementation-focused framework designed to connect climate priorities with practical cooperation, partnerships and delivery.
COP31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
Aurangzeb’s engagements in New York place climate finance, digital transformation and implementation of climate commitments among Pakistan’s key priorities during UNGA week.
[…] Aurangzeb Calls for Faster Climate Finance at UNGA […]