BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18. Governments and civil
society organizations must cooperate more closely to build
sustainable and resilient cities, a Pakistani representative said
at the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Trend reports.
Speaking during a panel session on “Ensuring Inclusive Urban
Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction and Promoting Sustainable Waste
Management,” organized by the Global South NGO Platform, Sana Ullah
Rathore, founder and president of the Youth Organization of
Pakistan, told that disaster management must prioritize prevention
rather than reaction.
He said more serious work is needed on issues such as air
quality, flooding, heavy rainfall and other climate-related
risks.
“It is not enough to intervene only after a disaster has
occurred. The main focus should be on disaster prevention,” Rathore
said. “Preventive measures should be taken before disasters happen.
Governments and civil society organizations should work together
and prepare disaster preparedness plans in parallel.”
Rathore also highlighted the importance of reducing carbon
emissions and expanding renewable energy use, noting that his
organization has implemented solar energy projects in Pakistani
cities to support sustainable development.
He called for stronger collaboration between governments and
civil society in building climate-resilient urban systems.
Rathore further emphasized the importance of youth participation
in climate action and urban development, saying young people should
be given opportunities to lead local projects and engage in
decision-making processes.
“Young people should be given opportunities to solve the problem
of climate change,” he said.
