Climate change is not just a future problem for Pakistan it is happening right now. Our country is among the most affected in the world, even though we produce very little pollution compared to big industrial nations. Heatwaves, floods, and changing weather are already hurting people’s lives, health, and economy. In recent years, cities like Jacobabad and Dadu have faced extreme heat, sometimes going above 50°C. Such temperatures are dangerous for human health and make daily life very difficult. People cannot work properly in the fields or outside, and electricity demand also rises because of cooling needs.
The floods and melting glaciers in Pakistan clearly show how badly climate change is hitting the country and why it has become one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. In 2022, Pakistan went through a disaster that people still remember as one of the darkest moments in its history. Heavy monsoon rains, made stronger by changing weather patterns, caused massive floods that covered a huge part of the country. At one point, nearly one-third of the land was under water. More than 1,700 people lost their lives, and among them were hundreds of children. Millions of families were displaced, forced to leave their homes with nothing but a few belongings, while standing water and damaged infrastructure made rescue work very difficult. Crops like wheat, cotton, and rice were destroyed, over a million livestock were lost, and key roads and bridges were washed away, which cut off many regions from help. The economic damage was counted in billions of dollars, but the real cost was the suffering of ordinary people who lost not just their houses but also their sources of income and food. This tragedy made it clear that Pakistan is extremely fragile when it comes to extreme weather events. In the northern areas, another silent disaster has been unfolding: the rapid melting of glaciers due to rising temperatures. Pakistan has more than seven thousand glaciers, the largest number outside the polar regions, and they are a vital source of water for rivers that support farming and drinking water for millions of people. But higher heat is melting them faster than before. Instead of a steady water supply, the melt often gathers into large glacial lakes, and when the ice walls holding them back suddenly break, they cause what is called a “glacial lake outburst flood.” These floods rush down mountain valleys with huge force, destroying homes, roads, and fields in minutes, and the people living in these remote areas often have little or no warning before disaster strikes.
Unfortunately, the story did not end in 2022. In 2025, Pakistan again went through another series of deadly floods. Pre-monsoon rains in June and July triggered flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat, sweeping away homes, small bridges, and even entire sections of villages. Then in August, sudden cloudbursts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa created powerful torrents that killed more than 300 people and destroyed hundreds of houses. The situation grew even worse in late August, when Punjab, the agricultural heart of the country, faced the most severe flooding since 1988. The main rivers Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej overflowed after unusually heavy rains combined with water releases from dams across the border. This led to the destruction of thousands of villages and farms. Over two million people were directly affected, more than seven hundred thousand were evacuated to safer places, and hundreds of relief camps had to be set up by the government with help from the army. Crops like rice, cotton, and sugarcane were badly damaged, which not only hurt farmers but also threatened the food supply and exports of the whole country.
Agriculture in Pakistan depends heavily on the climate, and climate change is making it unstable. Some years bring heavy rains and floods that destroy crops, while other years bring long dry spells that damage fields. Wheat, rice, and cotton the country’s most important crops are suffering because of changing rainfall, heat waves, and water shortages. This not only harms farmers but also creates food shortages and higher prices, which could turn into a bigger food security crisis if the situation continues. Water shortage adds to the problem. Pakistan is already one of the most water-stressed countries, and climate change makes it worse by melting glaciers too quickly and making rainfall less predictable. While some areas face floods, others like Sindh and Balochistan suffer droughts. Population growth and poor water management increase the pressure on rivers and groundwater, and much of the irrigation system wastes water. If this continues, Pakistan may face even more serious scarcity, threatening farming, drinking water, and electricity from dams.
Conclusion:
The current climate change situation in Pakistan is a clear warning for both the country and the world. It is not only an environmental issue but also a serious threat to health, food, water, and the economy. To face this challenge, Pakistan must take action at home and also seek support from abroad. Locally, better water management, stronger flood defenses, improved farming methods, and investment in renewable energy are necessary steps to reduce risks and prepare for future disasters. At the same time, the international community, especially rich countries that produce most of the emissions, has a responsibility to provide financial help and technology, because Pakistan suffers heavily despite contributing very little to global warming. If urgent steps are not taken, the problems of floods, food insecurity, water shortage, and health crises will only become worse. Climate change is no longer a distant problem for Pakistan it is a reality that demands immediate action to protect lives and secure a safer future.
