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SenatorSherryRehman

@sherryrehman • 1,309,104 subscribers

Senate Parliamentary Leader; VP PPP; Pakistan’s former Federal Minister Climate & Env ;Former Leader Opposition;FormerPak Amb to the US.Editor “Womansplaining”

Shorts

Look at the state of this children’s ward at PIMs. Totally gutted. People had to break windows and jump out. Emergency gate was closed, fire equipment not working, medical staff not present. Terrible tragedy. Criminal negligence all round in this public hospital of the federal capital. No one has voluntarily resigned. Shameful ! Nayyar Bokhari and I were totally shaken by the state of the children’s side of the hospital. The federal health ministry should have ceased to exist by now after devolution but no, this is how it limps on claiming more and more public money. Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP is available for assistance and aid. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the first to take notice of it. Hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones. 💔 Life will never be the same again for those bereaved parents. All prayers for them.

Look at the state of this children’s ward at PIMs. Totally gutted. People had to break windows and jump out. Emergency gate was closed, fire equipment not working, medical staff not present. Terrible tragedy. Criminal negligence all round in this public hospital of the federal capital. No one has voluntarily resigned. Shameful ! Nayyar Bokhari and I were totally shaken by the state of the children’s side of the hospital. The federal health ministry should have ceased to exist by now after devolution but no, this is how it limps on claiming more and more public money. Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP is available for assistance and aid. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the first to take notice of it. Hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones. 💔 Life will never be the same again for those bereaved parents. All prayers for them.

355,827 views

The catastrophic flooding predating KP, GB & AJK is obviously triggered by global #climatechange, which is fuelled by rising emissions and warming, but equally so by local institutional indifference to building real resilience for communities and society. The mega monsoon of 2025 has already claimed over 300 lives—most in KP—triggering landslides that wiped out villages, hampering rescue efforts with helicopter crashes, mass displacements. Why is this happening? • Forests everywhere are a shield against excess flooding, both in reducing bare-ground heating as well as for blunting climate shock and slowing water cascades. Deforestation in Pakistan is driven by illegal logging, wildfires, and the conversion of forest land for agriculture, commercial development, and mushrooming housing schemes. How much timber is lost to mafias in KP and the north ? Pakistan has the highest deforestation rate in South Asia and only retains 5 % forest 🌳 cover. In the last 33 years, Pakistan’s forest cover has alarmingly shrunk by 18%, falling from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to a mere 3.09 million hectares in 2025. This devastating loss is most acute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts like Swat, Chitral, Dir, Kohistan, and Shangla, where the illegal timber mafia relentlessly exploits ancient pine and deodar forests despite government bans imposed since 2002 and 2017. Large swathes of the "Million Tree Tsunami" disappeared in a sea of local graft, with saplings struggling to survive rapacious officials, flooding, neglect and poor audits. Locals report that 30 to 40% of Swat’s forests have already been destroyed, with the potential for up to 70% loss if this continues unchecked. The timber mafias operate with impunity where they "sanitise" local timber as coming in from Afghanistan. Each year, Pakistan loses approximately 27,000 hectares of forest, a critical natural defense that once protected communities from floods, heatwaves, and droughts. • Systemic failures on early warning have worsened the impact: Pakistan received $188 million from the World Bank for modernizing weather forecasting and establishing a disaster response system. Yet, unlike Bangladesh and Nepal, Pakistan failed to implement this vital infrastructure and by 2022 when the loan grant was saved from reversion at PMD it had to be repurposed for emergency cash transfers via the Benazir Income Support Programme for saving lives. Climate finance remains a source of inaction even in places where the commitment is available. • Unchecked urban development on riverbeds and green areas has destroyed natural shields for disaster reduction. From the Margallahs to KP, this march of "development" continues to cut through parks, green zones and what used to be protected areas. Graft and greed have led to land use rules being changed overnight, while permissions for building on floodplains, natural storm drains and channels for water flow have added to the devastation of areas and communities that could have been protected. • Melting glaciers, intensified floods, erratic rainfall now imperil Pakistan’s economy, food security, and very survival. Adaptation plans for national action & provinces remain paper documents referenced to elicit donor funding, or to activate delayed inputs. Plastic pollution continues to block drains and storm water exits in a country where there is no public literacy on pollution, and the role played by non biodegradable plastics in aiding monsoon flooding. Disaster management remains reactive and deployed in crisis, while today it faces overstretch at all points when faced with ferocity of extreme weather. To avoid deeper catastrophe, Pakistan must urgently seek more climate financing but build credibility too. It must locally embrace afforestation, resilient infrastructure, planning processes that actually mainstream climate action as policy not theory, reduce river & drain pollution, build empowered EPAs, support renewable energy. #ClimateActionNow

The catastrophic flooding predating KP, GB & AJK is obviously triggered by global #climatechange, which is fuelled by rising emissions and warming, but equally so by local institutional indifference to building real resilience for communities and society. The mega monsoon of 2025 has already claimed over 300 lives—most in KP—triggering landslides that wiped out villages, hampering rescue efforts with helicopter crashes, mass displacements. Why is this happening? • Forests everywhere are a shield against excess flooding, both in reducing bare-ground heating as well as for blunting climate shock and slowing water cascades. Deforestation in Pakistan is driven by illegal logging, wildfires, and the conversion of forest land for agriculture, commercial development, and mushrooming housing schemes. How much timber is lost to mafias in KP and the north ? Pakistan has the highest deforestation rate in South Asia and only retains 5 % forest 🌳 cover. In the last 33 years, Pakistan’s forest cover has alarmingly shrunk by 18%, falling from 3.78 million hectares in 1992 to a mere 3.09 million hectares in 2025. This devastating loss is most acute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts like Swat, Chitral, Dir, Kohistan, and Shangla, where the illegal timber mafia relentlessly exploits ancient pine and deodar forests despite government bans imposed since 2002 and 2017. Large swathes of the "Million Tree Tsunami" disappeared in a sea of local graft, with saplings struggling to survive rapacious officials, flooding, neglect and poor audits. Locals report that 30 to 40% of Swat’s forests have already been destroyed, with the potential for up to 70% loss if this continues unchecked. The timber mafias operate with impunity where they "sanitise" local timber as coming in from Afghanistan. Each year, Pakistan loses approximately 27,000 hectares of forest, a critical natural defense that once protected communities from floods, heatwaves, and droughts. • Systemic failures on early warning have worsened the impact: Pakistan received $188 million from the World Bank for modernizing weather forecasting and establishing a disaster response system. Yet, unlike Bangladesh and Nepal, Pakistan failed to implement this vital infrastructure and by 2022 when the loan grant was saved from reversion at PMD it had to be repurposed for emergency cash transfers via the Benazir Income Support Programme for saving lives. Climate finance remains a source of inaction even in places where the commitment is available. • Unchecked urban development on riverbeds and green areas has destroyed natural shields for disaster reduction. From the Margallahs to KP, this march of "development" continues to cut through parks, green zones and what used to be protected areas. Graft and greed have led to land use rules being changed overnight, while permissions for building on floodplains, natural storm drains and channels for water flow have added to the devastation of areas and communities that could have been protected. • Melting glaciers, intensified floods, erratic rainfall now imperil Pakistan’s economy, food security, and very survival. Adaptation plans for national action & provinces remain paper documents referenced to elicit donor funding, or to activate delayed inputs. Plastic pollution continues to block drains and storm water exits in a country where there is no public literacy on pollution, and the role played by non biodegradable plastics in aiding monsoon flooding. Disaster management remains reactive and deployed in crisis, while today it faces overstretch at all points when faced with ferocity of extreme weather. To avoid deeper catastrophe, Pakistan must urgently seek more climate financing but build credibility too. It must locally embrace afforestation, resilient infrastructure, planning processes that actually mainstream climate action as policy not theory, reduce river & drain pollution, build empowered EPAs, support renewable energy. #ClimateActionNow

182,827 views

#BiparjoyCyclone is real. Without panicking, people need to take PDMA Sindh and PDMA Balochistan advisories seriously for the coastal areas. So far it has reduced intensity only for Balochistan side am told but it is highly unpredictable so please do NOT take it casually. It is varying in intensity but caution is crucial, esp near the Sindh coast. Karachi will likely face urban flooding given the scale & intensity of winds. Precautionary evacuations in Seaview areas have begun. We will keep you updated

#BiparjoyCyclone is real. Without panicking, people need to take PDMA Sindh and PDMA Balochistan advisories seriously for the coastal areas. So far it has reduced intensity only for Balochistan side am told but it is highly unpredictable so please do NOT take it casually. It is varying in intensity but caution is crucial, esp near the Sindh coast. Karachi will likely face urban flooding given the scale & intensity of winds. Precautionary evacuations in Seaview areas have begun. We will keep you updated

60,911 views

How the military bands marched to make a flag last night ! 💚💚💚 Quite spectacular ☺️ as they later made a Marka-e-Haq symbol too. #PakistanHumaishaZindabad #14August 🇵🇰

How the military bands marched to make a flag last night ! 💚💚💚 Quite spectacular ☺️ as they later made a Marka-e-Haq symbol too. #PakistanHumaishaZindabad #14August 🇵🇰

18,447 views

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Thank you to all Senators from both Treasury and Opposition benches for signing my resolution on the #population growth rate for the entire Senate of Pakistan to adopt unanimously.

Thank you to all Senators from both Treasury and Opposition benches for signing my resolution on the #population growth rate for the entire Senate of Pakistan to adopt unanimously.

SenatorSherryRehman

19,345 views • 15 days ago

Pakistan has deftly leveraged the moment by building the room for peace, which is almost never a linear process. It is up to the two key adversaries to use that room to optimal advantage, and for us to read that room. Islamabad also has pivotal relationships across the Gulf region and beyond, that enable several conversations to manage risk in an increasingly complex century. Bloomberg TV today ☕️

Pakistan has deftly leveraged the moment by building the room for peace, which is almost never a linear process. It is up to the two key adversaries to use that room to optimal advantage, and for us to read that room. Islamabad also has pivotal relationships across the Gulf region and beyond, that enable several conversations to manage risk in an increasingly complex century. Bloomberg TV today ☕️

SenatorSherryRehman

163,252 views • 6 months ago

One of the unintended consequences of the Gulf wars has been the rise in regional alliances where countries resort to minilateralism to rebuild a new security architecture in West Asia. These alliances are testing new strategic relationships as well as the limits of conventional power that can potentially secure countries in the post-imperial order. Pakistan has emerged as the one consistent common denominator in all alignments, with capacity to bridge, hedge and navigate complexity between potential adversaries. The new environment is fluid, bristling with as many opportunities as risks.

One of the unintended consequences of the Gulf wars has been the rise in regional alliances where countries resort to minilateralism to rebuild a new security architecture in West Asia. These alliances are testing new strategic relationships as well as the limits of conventional power that can potentially secure countries in the post-imperial order. Pakistan has emerged as the one consistent common denominator in all alignments, with capacity to bridge, hedge and navigate complexity between potential adversaries. The new environment is fluid, bristling with as many opportunities as risks.

SenatorSherryRehman

16,112 views • 18 days ago

Very sorry for the precious lives lost in this Multan train accident. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families 🤲🏼💔

Very sorry for the precious lives lost in this Multan train accident. Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families 🤲🏼💔

SenatorSherryRehman

24,585 views • 1 month ago

The PPP always works for constructive solutions. Kudos to chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to push for creating political space for parliamentary efforts in stabilising the situation. Especially at an inflection point for Pakistan in the context of a tough security environment in our western border provinces. The committee still has its nose to the proverbial grindstone in Parliament House. Whichever way these talks go, hope is always the currency of democratic politics.

The PPP always works for constructive solutions. Kudos to chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to push for creating political space for parliamentary efforts in stabilising the situation. Especially at an inflection point for Pakistan in the context of a tough security environment in our western border provinces. The committee still has its nose to the proverbial grindstone in Parliament House. Whichever way these talks go, hope is always the currency of democratic politics.

SenatorSherryRehman

21,934 views • 1 month ago

Senate Committee on #ClimateChange: Grappling with what multiple agencies are doing, or not doing, about crucial learnings from #Nepal after the terrible glacial flood. We in Pakistan have the largest number of #glaciers outside the polar region but no comprehensive strategy that calculates the GLOF and melt-risks to our local population, our water supply and disaster index. Protecting #mountain regions now means mapping change, and relocating people in the path of growing possible calamity. Catastrophe comes within minutes of early warning now, given the accelerating melting. In this ecosystem data is the real gold needed, yet despite crippling charges we are still trying to buy it. We sought new ways of acquiring data, and moving past business as usual or proforma projects that only work on paper. Also talked how there is an urgent need of regional coordination among South Asian countries that are at risk. Responses cannot be fragmented. @ISIMOD

Senate Committee on #ClimateChange: Grappling with what multiple agencies are doing, or not doing, about crucial learnings from #Nepal after the terrible glacial flood. We in Pakistan have the largest number of #glaciers outside the polar region but no comprehensive strategy that calculates the GLOF and melt-risks to our local population, our water supply and disaster index. Protecting #mountain regions now means mapping change, and relocating people in the path of growing possible calamity. Catastrophe comes within minutes of early warning now, given the accelerating melting. In this ecosystem data is the real gold needed, yet despite crippling charges we are still trying to buy it. We sought new ways of acquiring data, and moving past business as usual or proforma projects that only work on paper. Also talked how there is an urgent need of regional coordination among South Asian countries that are at risk. Responses cannot be fragmented. @ISIMOD

SenatorSherryRehman

19,692 views • 1 month ago

The fire at PIMs public hospital has killed 14 children and it is beyond shocking that the mothers are seen saying they have not even seen their children’s bodies! This is a deep stain of shame on the entire ministry and the rot within. This is where citizens are sent to heal in the federal capital? We all see the erosion in services here but nothing is done even after assurances in parliament. Nothing will make up for these innocent lives lost. Justice must be done beyond executive audits now !

The fire at PIMs public hospital has killed 14 children and it is beyond shocking that the mothers are seen saying they have not even seen their children’s bodies! This is a deep stain of shame on the entire ministry and the rot within. This is where citizens are sent to heal in the federal capital? We all see the erosion in services here but nothing is done even after assurances in parliament. Nothing will make up for these innocent lives lost. Justice must be done beyond executive audits now !

SenatorSherryRehman

26,091 views • 2 months ago

Pakistan is certainly making strong diplomatic efforts in the face of prolonged war risks. If the dual chokepoint crisis in the Gulf continues until November, disruptions at Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb will have serious impacts on energy pricing, potential gas and other shortages, with high impacts on the costs of shipping, insurance, freight and trade. Pakistan’s role matters, but it cannot change other countries’ decisions or goals. Now would be a good time to make a planning war room for supply shocks. We need to work for the best but also plan for the worst. #Gulfcrisis

Pakistan is certainly making strong diplomatic efforts in the face of prolonged war risks. If the dual chokepoint crisis in the Gulf continues until November, disruptions at Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb will have serious impacts on energy pricing, potential gas and other shortages, with high impacts on the costs of shipping, insurance, freight and trade. Pakistan’s role matters, but it cannot change other countries’ decisions or goals. Now would be a good time to make a planning war room for supply shocks. We need to work for the best but also plan for the worst. #Gulfcrisis

SenatorSherryRehman

15,130 views • 1 month ago

Amazing grace by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in this "quarrelsome interview" with a constantly interrupting Karan Thapar. He didn't lose his cool or poise for one minute, despite the hectoring anchor with a single point agenda. The full interview is YouTube

Amazing grace by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in this "quarrelsome interview" with a constantly interrupting Karan Thapar. He didn't lose his cool or poise for one minute, despite the hectoring anchor with a single point agenda. The full interview is YouTube

SenatorSherryRehman

79,140 views • 1 year ago

Today’s talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was keen to seek political solutions through parliament. The meeting will resume tomorrow afternoon in the Speaker’s chamber.

Today’s talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was keen to seek political solutions through parliament. The meeting will resume tomorrow afternoon in the Speaker’s chamber.

SenatorSherryRehman

10,515 views • 1 month ago

Important discussions with Human Rights Commission of Pakistan today with Secretary General Haaris Khalique and WAF senior leader Nasreen Azhar at the HRCP office. Nayyar Bokhari and myself offered the Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP point of view on the constitutional courts and our position with federalism as our core priorities. Parliament must work to protect democracy, and must do so with as much inclusivity as possible.

Important discussions with Human Rights Commission of Pakistan today with Secretary General Haaris Khalique and WAF senior leader Nasreen Azhar at the HRCP office. Nayyar Bokhari and myself offered the Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP point of view on the constitutional courts and our position with federalism as our core priorities. Parliament must work to protect democracy, and must do so with as much inclusivity as possible.

SenatorSherryRehman

51,855 views • 2 years ago

PM Modi’s speech is nasty, brutish and frought with hatred. It is reflective of the "New Abnormal"; a doctrine of Hindutva supremacism and perpetual war he seeks to impose on South Asia. Also, he is seeking to change the headline on the war he did not win. Pakistan 🇵🇰 has no interest in war, but Mr Modi should not mistake that for weakness. #HindutvaRepublic

PM Modi’s speech is nasty, brutish and frought with hatred. It is reflective of the "New Abnormal"; a doctrine of Hindutva supremacism and perpetual war he seeks to impose on South Asia. Also, he is seeking to change the headline on the war he did not win. Pakistan 🇵🇰 has no interest in war, but Mr Modi should not mistake that for weakness. #HindutvaRepublic

SenatorSherryRehman

32,749 views • 1 year ago

Brooklyn, New York. Not a developing country with poor municipal governance. Climate change is real. It disrupts everything in its way. #TheRedPlanet

Brooklyn, New York. Not a developing country with poor municipal governance. Climate change is real. It disrupts everything in its way. #TheRedPlanet

SenatorSherryRehman

56,037 views • 3 years ago

Congratulations to our Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi for this honour. Pakistan Embassy China 🇵🇰🇨🇳

Congratulations to our Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi for this honour. Pakistan Embassy China 🇵🇰🇨🇳

SenatorSherryRehman

14,112 views • 5 months ago

Why should we have had to keep demanding a reason for extreme delay in results and Form 45 in NA127 at the RO office in Lahore. No credible answers and no change in speed despite Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 orders. Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP

Why should we have had to keep demanding a reason for extreme delay in results and Form 45 in NA127 at the RO office in Lahore. No credible answers and no change in speed despite Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 orders. Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP

SenatorSherryRehman

39,624 views • 2 years ago

As I chaired the #climate panel for the Commonwealth Asia session today a fun anecdote that few know about the Benazir Income Support Programme came to mind as a UN rep asked how one begins the long mile to “ leaving no one behind”. It begins by empowering #women as the Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP believes, and here I share a story about the pivotal importance of leadership commitment in a mtg in 2008 when we encountered stiff resistance to rolling out this key manifesto promise to women in cabinet committee. There was less resistance in 2022 when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wanted to build post-flood resilience housing that conferred land ownership rights to the women of the beneficiary households, but both programs proved transformational interventions in making women at the bottom of the social pyramid registered citizens with agency, land rights and incomes. This is how you do it.

As I chaired the #climate panel for the Commonwealth Asia session today a fun anecdote that few know about the Benazir Income Support Programme came to mind as a UN rep asked how one begins the long mile to “ leaving no one behind”. It begins by empowering #women as the Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP believes, and here I share a story about the pivotal importance of leadership commitment in a mtg in 2008 when we encountered stiff resistance to rolling out this key manifesto promise to women in cabinet committee. There was less resistance in 2022 when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wanted to build post-flood resilience housing that conferred land ownership rights to the women of the beneficiary households, but both programs proved transformational interventions in making women at the bottom of the social pyramid registered citizens with agency, land rights and incomes. This is how you do it.

SenatorSherryRehman

14,818 views • 9 months ago