By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: The Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum 2026 opened in Karachi on Monday, bringing together senior political leaders, international delegates and urban development experts from across the region.
The ceremony was attended by First Lady Asifa Bhutto Zardari and Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with members of the provincial cabinet and foreign delegations.
Speaking at the opening session, Sindh chief secretary Asif Hyder Shah described it as an honour for the provincial government to host the Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum 2026. He said more than 600 delegates and experts from 41 countries were taking part in the gathering.
He stressed that building comprehensive and sustainable communities was essential to confront the growing challenges of climate change. Climate-related disasters, he said, were no longer a threat of the future but an urgent reality requiring practical action.
Shah said the forum would move beyond dialogue to lay the groundwork for workable and implementable solutions. It would serve as a key platform for knowledge-sharing, exchanging best practice and forging effective partnerships.
He added that the Sindh government remained committed to promoting climate-resilient and sustainable communities and would extend full cooperation to strengthen global partnerships aimed at building a safer and more prepared future.
The three-day event features 26 sessions and more than 100 international experts, marking what organisers described as a significant step forward in regional collaboration on shelter and settlement challenges.
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