Global Change Impact Studies Centre

The Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) was established in May 2002 on the initiative of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, then Special Advisor to the Chief Executive of Pakistan and now Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Seed money for this activity was provided by the Ministry of Science & Technology. Since July 2003 the Centre is being supported by the Finance Division under a PSDP allocation. In January 2005 the Centre was made an autonomous body with the Ministry of Environment and was assigned to serve as the Secretariat to the newly formed Prime Ministers Committee on Climate Change. The main objectives of the Centre are: 1) To keep a track of the current and likely future trends of global change (climate change, technological change etc.); 2) To analyze and evaluate their likely impacts on the socio economic development in Pakistan; 3) To identify how science and technology may be called upon to cope with the adverse impacts, if any, and to advise national planners on the appropriate strategic approaches; 4) To enhance national capacity for Global Change research; and 5) To raise public awareness of Global Change related issues.