By Imtiaz Hussain
KARACHI: Transparency International Pakistan (TI Pakistan) held the closing ceremony of its six-month fellowship program for journalists on Climate Governance, Finance and Transparency, aimed at improving climate reporting in the country.
Around 15 mid-career journalists from Sindh’s climate‑vulnerable districts participated in the program, gaining technical knowledge on areas such as climate finance, carbon markets, national policies, and global commitments. Chairman Justice (R) Zia Perwez highlighted that climate change was no longer a distant concern but a recurring reality in Pakistan.
Zia Perwez emphasized the key role of journalists in ensuring that climate policies are implemented effectively and benefit local communities. Kashif Ali, Executive Director of TI Pakistan, noted that the fellowship modules were designed to address gaps in climate reporting and strengthen reporters’ capacities to deliver evidence-based reporting from the grassroots.
Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, Director General of the Sindh Environment Protection Agency, briefed participants on the province’s efforts to operationalize its climate policy through a structured implementation framework. He said multiple provincial departments, including irrigation, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forest, environment, local government, public health and disaster management, had been formally assigned focal persons for coordinated implementation.
An implementation committee for Nationally Determined Contributions and a long-term low-emission development strategy had also been established with support from international partners. Journalists, government representatives, media houses, academia and civil society participants underlined the importance of responsible, evidence-based journalism in strengthening public awareness, accountability, and policy responsiveness. They praised TI Pakistan’s efforts in building capacity and fostering collaboration between media, civil society, and government.
