Pakistan is confronting an escalating climate crisis that poses a severe threat to its environment, its economy, and the very livelihoods of millions of its citizens. Climate change has become an undeniable and inescapable reality within the country, manifesting through consistently rising temperatures, increasingly irregular monsoon patterns, accelerating glacial melt, a rising incidence of cloudbursts, and catastrophic floods that destroy entire communities in a matter of hours. Pakistan, despite being one of the smallest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, is consistently ranked among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Its geographic location, diverse topography, and heavy economic dependency on climate-sensitive agriculture further exacerbate its susceptibility to climate-related hazards. In recent years, the heightened intensity and frequency of floods, particularly those triggered by cloudbursts and glacial melt, have caused immense destruction in both rural and urban settings. If Pakistan is to not only survive but thrive in the face of these mounting threats, it must adopt an urgent, comprehensive, and multi-pronged approach to tackle climate change, mitigate the risk of cloudbursts, and manage floods in a more sustainable and effective manner.
The first and most immediate step Pakistan must take is to systematically integrate climate resilience into its national planning and governance framework. Climate change can no longer be treated as an issue confined to the Ministry of Climate Change; it must become a central, cross-cutting pillar of policy in every sector, including agriculture, urban development, water management, energy, and national security. Policymaking must undergo a fundamental shift from a reactive stance to a proactive and preventive one. This entails fully integrating climate adaptation measures into national development strategies, urban master plans, and rural development programs. It also means investing heavily in disaster risk reduction initiatives rather than merely responding to disasters after they have occurred. A well-coordinated, cohesive strategy that effectively links federal, provincial, and local governments, and is backed by data-driven decision-making and robust scientific research, is absolutely crucial for a coherent and effective national response.
One of the key elements in combating the effects of climate change and floods in Pakistan is the improved management of its water resources. Pakistan is inherently a river-dependent country, with the Indus River and its tributaries forming the indispensable backbone of the nation’s agriculture and overall economy. However, this vital lifeline has also become a recurring source of destruction when heavy rains and glacial melt combine to overwhelm riverbanks and storage reservoirs. Strengthening Pakistan’s water infrastructure is therefore essential. This includes the strategic construction and diligent maintenance of new dams, reservoirs, and flood diversion channels that can effectively store and control excess water. Existing major dams such as Tarbela and Mangla require significant upgrades to increase their storage capacity and improve their safety mechanisms. Concurrently, a network of small and medium-sized dams should be constructed in mountainous regions to better regulate water flow and prevent sudden, destructive flooding downstream. The Kala Bagh Dam project was a very promising initiative, but unfortunately, it did not proceed due to political disagreements. Effective and regular desilting operations, ongoing maintenance, and the implementation of real-time monitoring of water levels can significantly enhance the country’s overall capacity to manage floods. There is a critical need for large reservoirs and dams that can store excessive water during monsoon periods, which can then be utilized during times of water shortage. Furthermore, a prompt and efficient system for the regular cleaning of rivers, canals, and all water passages is urgently required. Unfortunately, in many areas, a great deal of garbage is indiscriminately thrown into rivers and canals, and there is a notable absence of enforcement to stop this practice. This accumulating garbage reduces the cross-sectional area, depth, and width of rivers and canals, which directly contributes to rising water levels during periods of heavy rain and glacial melt.
Reforestation and strategic watershed management also play a critical role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Trees naturally help to absorb rainfall, stabilize soil, and prevent erosion, all of which are essential functions for reducing the risk of floods and landslides caused by cloudbursts. Pakistan’s ambitious tree plantation initiatives, such as the Billion Tree Tsunami, are steps in the right direction, but they must be followed up with committed long-term maintenance, genuine community engagement, and strong protections for newly planted forests against illegal logging and urban encroachment. Natural barriers such as wetlands, mangroves, and riverine forests should be preserved and actively restored, as they act as effective buffers against floodwaters and rising sea levels. In the mountainous northern regions, afforestation efforts combined with sustainable land management practices can greatly reduce the damage caused by flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
Urban planning in Pakistan must undergo a radical transformation to account for the new realities of a changing climate. Rapid, unregulated, and often chaotic urbanization has led to cities expanding into natural floodplains and riverbanks, thereby turning episodes of heavy rainfall into urban flooding disasters. Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad frequently suffer from chronically blocked drainage systems, poor waste management, and widespread encroachments on natural water channels. To tackle this, city administrations must invest heavily in modern, high-capacity drainage and sewage systems that can handle intense downpours. Urban flooding can be minimized through the construction of rainwater harvesting systems, the use of permeable pavements, the installation of green rooftops, and the digging of artificial recharge wells. Zoning laws must be strictly enforced to prevent construction in topographically vulnerable areas, and illegal encroachments on stormwater drains and riverbeds must be removed without delay. Public awareness campaigns should accompany these infrastructural and regulatory reforms to promote responsible urban living and encourage active community participation in flood prevention efforts.
Pakistan should also play a more active and assertive role in international climate diplomacy. Given its extreme vulnerability, it must consistently advocate for climate justice on global platforms and forcefully demand financial and technical support from wealthier nations that are historically responsible for the vast majority of the climate crisis. International climate finance, particularly funds earmarked for adaptation projects, should be secured through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and the Loss and Damage Fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These financial resources can be strategically used to build resilient infrastructure, support communities displaced by climate impacts, and create new job opportunities in green and climate-friendly sectors.
Education and public awareness are absolutely vital to fostering long-term climate resilience. Climate literacy should be integrated into the national curriculum at all levels, from primary through to higher education. Citizens need to understand the causes and consequences of climate change, recognize how their everyday actions contribute to the problem, and learn what they can do to be part of the solution. The media, religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations must all play their part in fostering a widespread culture of environmental responsibility and stewardship. Youth, in particular, must be empowered and given the platform to lead the charge for sustainability, innovation, and climate activism.
While the Pakistan Army has performed an excellent and commendable job during such disasters, it is equally imperative that civilian departments are also well-equipped, well-trained, and well-organized to tackle disasters effectively. The civilian administration, like in many other countries around the world, should be capable of serving as the first responders, utilizing the specialized services of the Army only in cases of extreme urgency and when civilian capacity is overwhelmed. The Pakistan Army is already tasked with addressing other critical national issues, including defense and counter-terrorism, which themselves represent significant commitments. Civilian departments must be strengthened and professionalized to deal with disasters competently, thereby keeping vital military resources available for other external and internal security challenges.
Pakistan’s battle against climate change, cloudbursts, and floods is not a conflict that can be won with temporary fixes or reactive measures. It requires a holistic, multi-sectoral strategy that thoughtfully integrates environmental protection with economic development, disaster management with forward-looking urban planning, and scientific insight with active community engagement. The time for action is not at some point in the future; it is now. Every day of delay comes with a higher cost—measured in lives lost, homes destroyed, and futures irrevocably jeopardized. Only through a united national effort, guided by visionary leadership and robustly supported by the international community, can Pakistan hope to weather the coming storms of climate change and emerge as a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable nation for generations to come.
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