Human society is at a critical juncture as climate change becomes more real and inevitable. The global effects of climate change are unprecedented. Hence rising and fluctuation in temperatures undermines food production, causing glaciers to melt, causing disastrous flooding and erosion. Particularly in Pakistan changes in monsoons and increased temperatures are likely to bring considerable challenges to the agricultural sector, where vulnerability to climate change is already high. Sustainable wheat production is continuously threatened by recent climatic change. Drought and rusts are the major stresses in rainfed areas of Pakistan which causes 30-40% yield losses. The recent high temperature in fall season, terminal heat stress and change in virulence pattern of rust diseases is the result of climate change. This alarming situation invites enormous efforts for diversification of the genetic base of the current Pakistani wheat germplasm to develop climate resilient and disease resistant varieties for sustainable production of the wheat in the country. In this regard the Wheat Program, NARC, Pakistan initiated an intensive breeding program. Diverse sources of resistance to the three rusts particularly to the stem rust race Ug99 and abiotic factors like drought and heat tolerance were introduced from CIMMYT and ICARDA. Through standard breeding procedures, seven rust resistant wheat varieties (NARC 2009, NARC 2011, Pakistan 2013, Zincol 2016, Borlaug 2016, Markaz 2019 and NARC Super) have been released. These varieties are also resistant to Ug99. The varieties i.e. NARC 2011, Borlaug 2016, Zincol 2016 and NARC Super are performing well in irrigated areas. NARC 2009, Pakistan 2013 and Markz-2019 are drought tolerant and are suitable for rainfed conditions. The variety Zincol 2016 has high Zn content (35 ppm) in grain as compared to national standard check variety (25 ppm).These varieties are not only higher yielding but also possess good grain quality and other desirable traits. Thus these varieties with diverse sources of resistance and adaptation will replace the old susceptible varieties and reduce the risk of rust threat to exploit the potential yield and increase wheat production in the country. A considerable quantity of seed of these varieties is already present in the national seed system for quick dissemination.
