ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for collective national efforts to protect and restore Pakistan’s rangelands, combat desertification, and strengthen resilience against drought as the country observed Desertification and Drought Day 2026.

In separate messages, the two leaders said this year's theme, "Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore," underscores the critical role of rangelands in supporting livelihoods, ensuring food security, conserving biodiversity, improving water management, and maintaining ecological balance.

President Zardari described rangelands as one of Pakistan’s most valuable natural assets, particularly in arid, semi-arid, mountainous, and pastoral regions. He said they support livestock production, regulate water cycles, store carbon, and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people.

He warned that climate change, recurring droughts, overgrazing, urbanization, unsustainable land use, and land degradation are placing these ecosystems under severe pressure. According to the statement, the degradation of healthy rangelands threatens rural livelihoods, weakens food systems, and undermines the country's resilience to climate-related disasters.

Pakistan vulnerable to climate change

PM Sharif said Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells, water scarcity, and land degradation posing serious challenges to agricultural productivity and national food security.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to land restoration, sustainable rangeland management, afforestation, ecosystem restoration, drought mitigation, and greater community participation.

He also highlighted the Zarkhaiz Scheme, launched to provide farmers with interest-free, easy-term loans.

"The initiative will help farmers protect and improve the productivity of agricultural land, while subsidies on agricultural machinery will further strengthen their productive capacity," the prime minister said.

Both leaders urged the federal and provincial governments, public institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, and local communities to work together to promote sustainable land management.

They stressed that restoring rangelands is essential to protecting livelihoods, strengthening food security, and preserving the country's natural resources for future generations.

Forests

Pakistan president, PM call for collective action to restore rangelands, fight desertification