Ghazala Anbreen
Pakistan is paying the price for climate change impacts, although it is not the major polluter. There must be consistent ownership all over the world; mainly, there must be accountability for the activities of major emitters, as they are causing a massive disruption.
Every year, a flood comes, and we are faced with a huge crisis. Dislocation is not the only problem. Afterwards, Pakistan has to face outbreaks of diseases and severe food shortages. Experts say that rainfall in the coming years will be more intense. It is a serious matter, and flooding has, in a way, become a routine now. The monsoon floods have become a recurring experience in Pakistan. There are unexpected events like floods, torrential rains, and excessive water in the rivers. Food insecurity often worsens during monsoon spells, compounding the suffering. The impact of floods is devastating, leaving lasting consequences. Pakistan is never the same after major flood events.
After the floods in 2022, 33 million people were badly affected. In 2022, the Pakistan floods claimed the lives of 1700 people. It caused a 30-billion-dollar economic impact on our economy. In 2022, around 2 million homes were affected and damaged across Pakistan. In 2025, thousands of businesses were destroyed. People who built houses with much effort, a lot of their possessions were washed away with the floods, along with the crops and livestock. During the 2022 Pakistan floods, the evacuation warning times for many residents left little time for preparation.
There are abnormal rainfall patterns and a great shift in the weather patterns and water systems. Due to variations in the climate, the forecast or prediction becomes difficult, and it cannot be as reliable as it used to be. For instance, extreme heat accelerates glacial melting and increases the risk of glacial lake outburst floods. If it continues for 8 or more years, the drought-like situation is likely to prevail. Since global warming is now an accepted reality, we must prepare for the worst situations, keeping in view the climate change that is all over the world. Snowfall patterns have also changed. The amount of snow is getting thinner now.
Now, the increasing torrential rains cause us many problems, especially when seen with the current state of infrastructure. Even moderate rain can have the potential to put considerable pressure on the drainage systems. This emphasizes the need for improvement, upgradation, and modifications. This calls for the need to strengthen the water governance system in light of new realities and state-of-the-art technologies.
Why is Pakistan so susceptible to climate change effects? We should look into the details to find ways to mitigate droughts and floods and develop resilience. Climate change should be the foremost priority for us to deal with. It requires comprehensive long-term projects that distribute the responsibility to broader areas.
It is also noteworthy that a little more rain in Karachi makes the civic infrastructure difficult to cope with. And we have very little time to react in such cases. Especially during monsoon rains, the riverine floods and torrential floods become very intense, and high risks are involved in such cases. A flow with more than 800,000 cusecs is classified as a super flood.
We must realize that closing and blocking natural waterways will only create problems. When in the way of the river, we build homes and sow crops; then, in case of excessive rain, the river will reclaim its course. Hence, human activities have altered the natural flood path. Moreover, it is also a fact that not all places are suitable for sowing. We must make our farmers learn about the variety of crops and impart to them a knowledge of the suitable time for growing different crops. The farmers should also be informed about drought-resistant and water-resistant crops. Efforts to develop an agroecological system can produce much better yields. In addition to integrating ecological principles for soil health restoration, there are ways in which Pakistan can gradually transition economically, using energy efficiently and with less dependency on chemicals for soil fertility.
Human activities, such as deforestation and encroachments, have worsened flood risks. Cutting down the forests and going into conflict with nature are creating multiple problems. It is vital to control construction in flood-prone areas to thwart future catastrophes. Our rivers have shrunken because of encroachments. The flowing area has shriveled. We must let the rivers flow.
On a global level, temperatures are rising. We are watching its impacts very clearly now. We should have a check on riverbed encroachment and deforestation.
Preparation to counter the monsoon flooding should start early. The visits of the officers and officials should be before the rainy season to see that the pumping units are working properly. Also, the drainage pipes must be monitored regularly to ensure they are not blocked by plastic bags. There must be a plan for climate change to battle the floods and manage the drainage system. We should prepare ourselves for the challenges in terms of infrastructure. We have to restrict the burning of fossil fuels also, and should look for alternative green energy substitutes. Historical accounts suggest that wider drainage passages were once maintained earlier. Therefore, we should keep the opening channel on main highways broad and wide for a steady and proper flow of water. For this, there must be a repositioning of roads and drains in light of new realities on an emergency basis.
Hill torrents affect a large portion of the country, particularly in hilly and dry regions. The rapidly changing climate patterns, combined with urban expansion and illegal housing schemes, put these areas at an extreme risk of submerging, often compounded by food insecurity during monsoon spells. During such events, the marginalized communities are always the hardest hit. They must be protected, as during the floods, they are harder to reach. There must be enforcement of environmental laws. Most importantly, the continuity of policies is essential; strict monitoring of illegal housing societies near hill torrents, and restricting deforestation, all these measures will help fight the emergency.
Medium and long-term plans should be in such a way that we get prepared for the worst, whether there is a heat wave, drought, floods, or earthquakes. We cannot control the weather. We have to develop resilience and adaptation to the new realities. Community-based projects should be devised targeting the problems that local areas face. Forecasting how climate patterns change and equipping with better global knowledge on the grassroots level will also help a lot. Preparedness for flood fighting demands the making of proper evacuation plans and securing the transport facilities.
