ISLAMABAD: Shehersaaz marked the achievements of the Project for Urban Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (PUCCAR) with a celebratory event at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, bringing together partners, team members and stakeholders to recognise collective efforts toward building climate-resilient communities.

The event reflected on PUCCAR’s achievements in Rawalpindi and Nowshera and highlighted the importance of partnerships, community participation and sustained action in addressing the impacts of climate change.

A total number of 450 participants were present at the event, including 298 men and 152 women. Community members and staff from Rawalpindi, Nowshera and Islamabad along with notable dignitaries were present at the event to celebrate PUCCAR achievements.

The ceremony featured messages from Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director of Shehersaaz, Mr. Jawed Ali Khan, Senior Advisor, UN-Habitat Pakistan, Ms. Odicea Angelo Barrios, Human Settlements Officer at UN-Habitat, and Mr. Waqar Syed, Country Program Manager at UN-Habitat Pakistan. Speakers highlighted the role of collaborative approaches and community-led initiatives in advancing urban climate adaptation.

Implemented by Shehersaaz in partnership with UN-Habitat, with financial support from the Adaptation Fund, PUCCAR reached communities across 15 Union Councils and Neighbourhood Councils. The project resulted in the installation of 5,060 rainwater harvesting units, creating a combined storage capacity of 7,570,450 litres of rainwater and benefiting 97,867 people.

The initiative also provided climate-related training to 16,662 individuals, supported interventions in 60 educational institutions, and facilitated 80 youth-led climate adaptation projects.

The celebration brought these efforts to the stage through Theatre Wallay’s “Pani Sab Ka Aik,” a powerful Urdu social theatre performance directed by Ahad Ali Siddiqui, highlighting water conservation, responsible resource use, community participation and behavioural change.

The 5 years extensive and impactful work of PUCCAR was shown as a documentary evidence  of the project, filmed by Keychain Films.

The audience greatly appreciated the efforts. From social mobilizing to building technical drawings and execution, from segregating waste to making compost and becoming women entrepreneur and from disaster worried to being disaster ready, Shehersaaz Team made this possible and stood proud.

The evening also featured the exclusive musical piece “Boond Boond Pani – Ik Nai Kahani,” written, composed and performed by Mr. Furqan Ahmad, a visually impaired artist from FA Virtual Studio, with Ms. Anahita Sajjad also lending her voice to the production.

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Shehersaaz team members from Nowshera, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in recognition of their dedication and contribution to the successful implementation of PUCCAR.

Through “Voices from Communities,” participants from Rawalpindi, Nowshera and Rescue 1122 shared their experiences, bringing the people-centered impact of PUCCAR to the forefront.

From rainwater harvesting and climate adaptation to theatre, music, project documentary and community voices, the evening reflected a shared message: climate action and resilience become meaningful when people come together.

The ceremony served as an occasion to acknowledge the people, communities and partners whose collective efforts contributed to the project’s achievements and to reaffirm the importance of continued climate action.

Together, Shehersaaz and its partners are working toward more resilient communities in the face of a changing climate.

 

NOWSHERA KALAN: Shehersaaz continues to demonstrate how practical and locally relevant solutions can strengthen water conservation and climate resilience in schools.

During a recent visit with the District Education Officers (DEO) Mr. Khalid & Ms. Safia to schools in Nowshera Kalan equipped with Rainwater Harvesting Units (RWHUs), officials took keen interest in the system, including its operation, rainwater collection process and integration with the schools’ existing water supply.

The visit highlighted the potential of RWHUs to serve not only individual schools but also as a replicable model for wider institutional action across the district.

The engagement reflects growing interest in practical approaches that promote water conservation, strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure and build awareness among educational institutions.

Through initiatives such as RWHUs, Shehersaaz is demonstrating a pathway for schools to become models of responsible water management and climate-smart development-setting an example, creating a pathway and inspiring a district.

54 Youth Leaders from Rawalpindi and Nowshera Present Community-Driven Climate Solutions at Shehersaaz's Youth Environment Assembly 2026

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, under the global theme "Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Our Future", Shehersaaz successfully organized the Youth Environment Assembly 2026 in Rawalpindi and Nowshera, providing a platform for young people to present innovative, community-driven solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

Held on 4 June 2026, the Assembly brought together 54 youth representatives from underserved communities, including 32 participants from 8 Neighborhood Councils in Nowshera and 22 participants from 7 Union Councils in Rawalpindi. The initiative empowered participants to identify environmental issues affecting their communities and transform their ideas into practical projects aimed at building more sustainable and climate-resilient neighborhoods.

During the Assembly, the participating youth submitted 54 project proposals, each reflecting local priorities and innovative approaches to addressing environmental concerns. The proposals covered a diverse range of issues, including solid waste management, water scarcity, pollution, climate adaptation, environmental awareness, community sustainability, and resilience-building.

The Youth Environment Assembly is a flagship initiative of Shehersaaz designed to engage young people in meaningful dialogue and action on environmental challenges. The platform recognizes youth as key stakeholders in shaping sustainable communities and enables them to contribute solutions based on their lived experiences and local knowledge.

The project ideas presented during the Assembly were developed through a series of preparatory engagements and orientation sessions conducted in both Rawalpindi and Nowshera, equipping participants with the guidance needed to convert community challenges into actionable proposals.

As part of its commitment to youth-led climate action, Shehersaaz announced that selected projects will receive technical support and financial assistance for implementation. Approved initiatives are expected to move into execution within the next 30 days, allowing young people to transform their ideas into tangible community interventions with measurable impact.
By investing in youth leadership and community-driven innovation, Shehersaaz continues to strengthen local resilience, promote environmental stewardship, and advance sustainable development across Pakistan, demonstrating that meaningful climate action begins with empowering the communities that experience these challenges firsthand.