Theme: “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities”

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The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed annually on 17 June, is a call to action for the global community to confront the urgent threats of land degradation and water scarcity. The 2025 theme, “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities,” underscores the transformative potential of land restoration in driving sustainable development, strengthening climate resilience, and creating economic and social benefits for millions of people.

In Pakistan, land is a vital asset that underpins food and water security, biodiversity conservation, rural livelihoods, and national prosperity. However, nearly 50 percent of our land area faces various forms of degradation caused by deforestation, overgrazing, salinity, waterlogging, and unplanned urbanization. These pressures are exacerbated by climate change, which has intensified the frequency and severity of droughts, wildfires, and floods. The catastrophic floods of 2022 and the recurring dry spells in recent years are a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we face, particularly with over 80 percent of our territory lying in arid and semi-arid zones.

Despite these challenges, Pakistan continues to demonstrate strong commitment and leadership in restoring degraded landscapes and promoting sustainable land management. The deserts of Pakistan including the Thar, Cholistan, and Kharan are not only ecologically significant but also home to culturally rich and climate-vulnerable communities whose resilience depends on sustainable land use and access to water resources. Protecting these fragile ecosystems is essential for preserving biodiversity, supporting traditional livelihoods, and enhancing regional stability. Pakistan's remarkable success in mangrove restoration has also made it a global example of effective nature-based solutions. Our mangrove forest cover has expanded by over 300 percent since 1990, making Pakistan the only country in the region with increasing mangrove forests critical for coastal protection, fisheries, and carbon sequestration.

To guide and institutionalize these efforts, the Government of Pakistan has adopted robust policy frameworks including the National Climate Change Policy, National Adaptation Plan, and the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme. We have also developed a comprehensive National Drought Plan to strengthen preparedness and enhance resilience to future droughts.

At the international level, Pakistan has remained an active and responsible Party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) since 1997. We fully support the outcomes of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2024, which reinforced global momentum for land restoration, drought resilience, and sustainable development. As a country that shares ecological challenges with the broader region, Pakistan is also proud to be associated with the Riyadh Partnership for Green Sustainability and the Middle East Green Initiative ambitious platforms launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance regional cooperation on climate action and ecosystem restoration. We are committed to translating the decisions of COP16 and the shared objectives of these partnerships into concrete national actions, guided by innovation, inclusivity, and nature-based solutions.

As we mark this global observance, we reaffirm our resolve to restore degraded lands and unlock the immense economic, social, and environmental opportunities that lie within. I urge all stakeholders government institutions, development partners, civil society, academia, the private sector, and local communities to come together and accelerate actions that ensure a resilient, productive, and sustainable future for our people and our planet.