Khawar Abbas Shah
Climate Change and Pakistan
The story of climate change in Pakistan is not merely one of rising temperatures or changing weather patterns—it is the story of lives upended, communities displaced and a nation fighting an increasingly unpredictable future. From the frozen peaks of the Karakoram to the fertile plains of the Indus and the shores of the Arabian Sea, climate change is reshaping the country’s landscape with alarming speed. Rivers that have sustained civilizations for centuries are becoming more volatile, glaciers are retreating, summers are growing hotter and disasters once considered rare are becoming disturbingly routine. For a country responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan has become one of the world’s most visible symbols of climate injustice, bearing the heavy cost of a crisis it did little to create.
Pakistan’s diverse geography, stretching from the glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush to the fertile plains of the Indus River and the Arabian Sea coast, exposes it to a wide range of climate-related hazards. Scientists warn that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods while threatening long-term water supplies. The Indus River system, which supports agriculture, industry and millions of livelihoods, is under growing pressure from changing weather patterns and declining water availability.
The catastrophic floods of 2022 underscored the scale of Pakistan’s vulnerability. Record monsoon rains, coupled with accelerated glacial melting, inundated large parts of the country, killing more than 1,700 people, displacing millions and causing economic losses estimated at over $30 billion. The disaster destroyed homes, roads, schools, hospitals and farmland, exposing weaknesses in infrastructure and disaster preparedness while highlighting the urgent need for climate resilience.
Agriculture, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, is increasingly under threat from erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and recurring droughts. Lower crop yields, declining livestock productivity and growing water shortages are raising concerns over food security and rural livelihoods. Farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt as traditional growing seasons become less predictable.
Urban centers are also facing mounting challenges. More frequent and intense heatwaves have pushed temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country, increasing heat-related illnesses, straining electricity supplies and reducing labor productivity. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion are further threatening communities in Sindh, particularly in the Indus Delta, where saltwater intrusion is damaging farmland and freshwater resources.
Pakistan has adopted policies aimed at strengthening climate resilience through renewable energy, reforestation, disaster risk reduction and environmental conservation. It has also urged wealthier nations to provide greater climate finance, arguing that countries most responsible for historical emissions should support vulnerable developing states in adapting to climate change.
Experts say Pakistan’s ability to withstand future climate shocks will depend on sustained investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, efficient water management, renewable energy, scientific research and early warning systems. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, climate change is no longer simply an environmental challenge but a defining test of Pakistan’s economic stability, national security and sustainable development.
The writer based in Rawalpindi, he is Journalist and Columnist and Chief Editor of News Pulse.
Email:khawar.syed14@gmail.com