The workshop commenced with welcoming remarks and a presentation on the “State of Environment of Gilgit-Baltistan”, by Mr. Shehzad Hasan Shigri, Director, GB-EPA, wherein he gave an overview of already executed and ongoing interventions, highlighting the gaps, and stressing the need for more interventions, on a bigger scale and an environment policy that encompasses all.

A multitude of government departments and agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector engaged in the workshop ensuring ownership of the document and an all-inclusive approach. Additionally, 23 women from different walks of life attended the workshop ensuring gender-responsive recommendations to be included in the upcoming GB Environment Policy.

Mr. Usman Manzoor, Programme Officer, UNDP gave an overview of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Long-Term Strategy (LTS), and relevant interventions executed by UNDP under the Climate Promise Project, followed by a presentation that outlined the key focus areas of upcoming GB Environment Policy. Subsequently, the participants were divided into groups based on following thematic areas: Hydrology and Water Resources, Biodiversity, Green Initiative and Sustainable Development, Climate Change Livelihood and Social Protection, and Environment Policy. After the discussion on recommendations in the group work facilitated by UNDP consultant and others, presentations on the key takeaways from discussions were given, ensuring all participants were aware of the progress of each, and to be noted by UNDP for future use.