Mudassir Rizwan
In 2022, Pakistan was thrust into the global spotlight as catastrophic floods inundated one-third of the country, devastating communities, displacing millions, and exposing the harsh realities of climate change. For a brief moment, the term “climate change” became a focal point in both national and international discourse. However, as the immediate crisis faded from the headlines, so too did the urgency to address its long-term effects. Climate change, often framed as a distant threat or a concern for future generations, is already wreaking havoc on the lives of millions in Pakistan. Its impacts are not just seen in the form of large-scale destruction of crops, infrastructure, and livestock. More insidiously, climate change is driving entire populations deeper into poverty, particularly those displaced by natural disasters, with long-term consequences that require immediate action.
The focus on climate change in Pakistan has been disjointed and short-lived. The floods of 2022 may have sparked public interest, but the attention quickly dwindled as new issues emerged on the national agenda. This shift in focus is not just a matter of shifting priorities; it is a failure to recognize the far-reaching and sustained consequences of climate disasters. While the immediate damage to agriculture, homes, and infrastructure is devastating, the most persistent and insidious effects are seen in the lives of the displaced, the impoverished, and the vulnerable. For millions of Pakistanis, the floods represented not just a natural disaster, but a brutal plunge into deeper poverty. Thousands of people, already living on the margins, found themselves without homes, without livelihoods, and without the basic means to sustain themselves.
As large swathes of the population were displaced, many found refuge in urban areas where the already overburdened infrastructure struggled to cope with the influx of new residents. These displaced individuals, lacking any meaningful skills or access to resources, are often forced to live in dire conditions. Many now survive on a hand-to-mouth existence, relying on the kindness of charitable organizations or the very little they can scrape together through informal work. Tragically, this grim reality is not only the result of the floods but also a symptom of a larger, systemic failure to address the deep-rooted issues of poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity in Pakistan.
The impact of this crisis is most apparent in the lives of children and pregnant women. In the absence of any substantial governmental intervention, malnutrition is rampant. Children are going to bed hungry, and pregnant women, already vulnerable, give birth to underweight babies who often require urgent medical attention. While leaders in Pakistan continue to tout the country’s youthful population as a demographic dividend, this so-called advantage has yet to translate into meaningful investments in healthcare, nutrition, and education. There is a glaring disconnect between the rhetoric of a “youthful nation” and the dire circumstances faced by these young people, many of whom live in abject poverty.
Moreover, the situation is exacerbated by the rising cost of food, which has made basic sustenance an ever-greater challenge. In cities across the country, long lines form outside food distribution centers as people struggle to get one meal a day. While the price of essential food items soars, wages have remained stagnant, leaving the majority of Pakistanis unable to afford even the most basic necessities. This disparity between wages and the cost of living is a clear indicator of an economy in crisis, but it also speaks to a larger systemic failure. It is a failure not only to address the immediate needs of the people but also to create a sustainable economic model that can lift the population out of poverty.
In Pakistan, a healthy and thriving population is key to the country’s future success. Yet, the government has allowed market players to dictate the prices of food, resulting in a scenario where a large portion of the population is unable to access basic nutrition. The prevailing economic policies, heavily influenced by external financial institutions, have failed to address the structural issues that underpin food insecurity, inequality, and poverty. While these institutions have a critical role to play in Pakistan’s economic stability, their solutions have largely been disconnected from the lived realities of ordinary Pakistanis. The reliance on these foreign models has left the country vulnerable to external shocks and ill-equipped to deal with the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
What Pakistan needs is a home-grown solution, one that takes into account the unique challenges faced by the population and the environmental factors driving poverty. The solution does not lie in continuing to accept economic models and policies dictated by foreign institutions. Instead, the country must look inward, engaging grassroots organizations and local communities in the decision-making process. These organizations, which have intimate knowledge of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, can offer valuable insights into how to address climate change in a way that is affordable and sustainable. They understand the ground realities and can help design solutions that work for the people most affected by these crises.
Addressing climate change in Pakistan is not just a matter of implementing top-down policies or waiting for foreign aid to solve the problem. It requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society, including government, civil society, and the private sector, to develop a strategy that is both effective and inclusive. Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies must be tailored to the specific needs of the population, and this requires listening to the people who are most affected. Without such an approach, the country will continue to experience the cyclical destruction caused by climate-related disasters, with little to no progress made toward building resilience or addressing the underlying causes of poverty and inequality.
It is time for the leaders of Pakistan to move beyond mere expressions of concern and take meaningful action. The country cannot afford to continue down a path of inaction and short-term fixes. Climate change is not a distant threat – it is a present-day reality, and its consequences are being felt by millions of Pakistanis. If the country is to have any hope of overcoming the challenges of climate change and poverty, it must begin by addressing the immediate needs of its people and investing in long-term, sustainable solutions. Only through grassroots engagement, a commitment to equity, and a focus on building resilience can Pakistan hope to navigate the stormy waters ahead.
In conclusion, climate change in Pakistan is not just a matter of environmental degradation; it is a socioeconomic crisis that is pushing millions into deeper poverty. To combat this, the country needs to move beyond rhetoric and adopt a comprehensive, locally-driven approach that includes immediate relief for the displaced and long-term strategies for food security, healthcare, and sustainable development. Only then can Pakistan hope to recover and build a more resilient future for its people.
