One can see from space how the human race has changed the Earth. Nearly all of the available land has been cleared of forest and is now used for agriculture or urban development. The polar icecaps are shrinking and the desert areas are increasing. At night, the Earth is no longer dark, but large areas are lit up. All of this is evidence that human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit. But human demands and expectations are ever-increasing. We cannot continue to pollute the atmosphere, poison the ocean and exhaust the land. There isn’t any more available.
Stephen Hawking, Physicist & Author
Essential transport corridors like the Karakoram Highway, JSR, Gilgit-Hunza Road, and roads leading to Chilas, Astore, and Khaplu were either blocked or completely damaged. Relief efforts were hampered by the destruction of key connecting points and communication networks.
These contrasting disasters with floods in the north and droughts in the south; are clear symptoms of a warming planet. Rising global temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which causes heavier rainfall when it does rain, but also longer dry spells elsewhere.
Pakistan’s current climate situation severely threatens its progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Karachi and rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan are facing dangerous water shortages.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is losing a significant amount of its limited tree cover nearly about 11,000 (ha) yearly, due to fires, deforestation, and land conversions. Over two decades, forest cover has declined by roughly 20%, with roughly 27,000 (ha) cleared annually, much of it due to urban growth and energy scarcity. With only around 5% forest cover, Pakistan ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of forestation worldwide.
During my recent visit to Gilgit-Baltistan from June 28 to July 9, 2025, I had the chance to witness the changing climate firsthand. I traveled through KPK, Skardu, Gilgit, Nagar, Hunza, Naltar, Basho Valley, Soq Valley, Kharmang, Haramosh, Kachura, and, etc , navigating key routes including the Jaglot–Skardu Road (JSR), the Karakoram Highway (KKH), and other various regional express ways/connecting roads.
What struck me most during the visit was the complete absence of rainfall during the peak pre-monsoon season. Instead of cool mountain showers, the region was experiencing scorching heat, with heat index levels rising unusually high, particularly in Skardu and Gilgit, which traditionally remain cool in early July.
The rivers were running shallow in several parts, and local residents voiced concerns over the dry spell and rising temperatures.
Then, just a week after my return, I was shocked to see news footage of the same valleys engulfed by torrential rains, landslides, and overflowing rivers. Roads that I had travelled on; particularly parts of the Naran-Chillas, KKH and JSR were suddenly blocked by landslides or submerged under floodwaters. The speed and intensity of this change was both alarming and heartbreaking, and it underscored the unpredictable and dangerous behavior of the climate.
This year Pakistan has once again faced the wrath of nature and a shocking season. During June and July 2025, record-breaking monsoon rains have caused devastating cloudbursts, flash floods, and urban flooding across the northern parts of the country.
 |
| The Swat River tragedy, which claimed 12 lives, was not a natural disaster but a failure of climate preparedness, poor governance, and media inaction |
In contrast, the southern regions, especially the city of Karachi and coastal Sindh, are suffering from prolonged droughts, with little to no meaningful rainfall for the fourth consecutive year.
These are not isolated events. Scientists and weather experts agree that they are direct outcomes of climate change and shifting global weather patterns.
Indeed, for North it’s a developing story, as across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Kashmir, and northern Punjab, the monsoon rains arrived with sudden and terrifying force.
Multiple cloudbursts triggered flash floods and landslides, washing away homes, livestock, and entire sections of roads.
The Indus River and its major tributaries which includes, Swat, Neelum, Jhelum, Gilgit, and Hunza Rivers; were flowing at dangerously high levels at various points. Swollen riverbanks burst into several districts, leaving thousands displaced. In upper KPK and GB, the rapid melting of glaciers added to the water volume, overwhelming valleys and settlements.
In addition to the mountains and valleys, major cities like Peshawar, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi and the capital Islamabad have been hit by severe urban flooding. Unchecked urban sprawl, clogged drains, and lack of emergency infrastructure turned neighborhoods into flood zones. Thousands of people were stranded without electricity, drinking water, or transportation for days.
 |
| A view of water level increased in Nullah Lai due to early morning heavy rain in the city. (Source- APP) |
While the north struggles with too much water, southern Pakistan continues to dry up. The crisis is worst in Karachi, where rainfall has been almost nonexistent for the past four monsoon seasons. July 2025 has once again passed without meaningful precipitation.
This persistent drought has caused a drinking water emergency in many parts of the city. Reservoirs like Hub Dam and Keenjhar Lake are nearly dry. Citizens rely heavily on water tankers, which are now unaffordable for many.
The urban heat island effect (UHI) , combined with concrete expansion, has made summers in Karachi nearly unbearable, with temperatures crossing 45°C in shaded areas.
Despite being a coastal city, Karachi has seen little benefit from the Arabian Sea. Warm ocean temperatures have changed wind patterns and rainfall dynamics, increasing the frequency of cyclonic warnings that bring fear but not much-needed rain.
In the north, glaciers are melting due to rising temperatures which is leading to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). These events have become more frequent, sudden, and deadly. In the south, changing monsoon patterns and warmer sea temperatures are pushing rain clouds away from the coast, causing prolonged dry periods and extreme heatwaves.
SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate adaptation efforts remain underfunded and poorly coordinated.
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Disruption in food production is causing hunger and malnutrition in vulnerable areas.
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities): Urban flooding reveals the lack of resilient infrastructure in major cities.
Despite some progress through afforestation campaigns, early warning systems, and international climate partnerships, Pakistan still lacks strong climate governance, data-based planning, and enforcement of environmental laws.
Meanwhile, urban expansions especially around Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi has driven substantial loss of forests and coastal mangroves.
To tackle these challenges, Pakistan has secured $1.4 billion in IMF climate funding under the RSF, aimed at integrating climate risk into public investment planning and mobilizing private green finance. The RSF-supported reforms bolster resilience through improved water management, disaster coordination, and intergovernmental climate governance.
The initiative is particularly critical given the scale of recent climate-related disasters as most notably the 2022 floods that impacted millions and cost tens of billions of dollars.
Brace Yourself:
If current patterns continue unchecked, the year 2026 may bring even more extreme heat, inconsistent rainfall patterns, and unpredictable weather cycles. The frequency of GLOFs, urban floods, and drought emergencies is expected to increase. Water conflicts between provinces or between India-Pakistan (Indus Water Treaty Disputes) could intensify, and economic pressure from crop failures could trigger further inflation and unrest.
Vulnerable populations, especially in rural Sindh, Balochistan, and mountainous regions will probably face the harshest consequences unless immediate actions are taken.
What I witnessed firsthand in Gilgit-Baltistan, scorching heat one week, deadly floods the next is the face of climate change. From the flooded valleys of Skardu and Hunza to the parched streets of Karachi, Pakistan is living through a climate emergency.
We must act now; through policy, public awareness, regional cooperation, and resilient development to protect our people, economy, and future.
Disclaimer:
The images/names/trademarks used are sole property of their respective owners/companies. For any image removals, please contact author for the same.
Happy Reading!!
It is excellent, global warming is very much affected our earth especially Indo pak, your publication covered how to hit our land and damages a lot . Hope our government has have a first priority in it's agenda.
ReplyDelete