Global Desk A new interactive climate report has laid bare the scale of Pakistan’s worsening climate crisis, highlighting how extreme weather, melting glaciers, floods, heatwaves and water scarcity are increasingly threatening lives and livelihoods across the country. The report underscores that Pakistan remains among the nations most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The contrast between its minimal emissions footprint and severe climate impact has intensified calls for global climate justice and stronger international support.

In recent years, Pakistan has faced repeated climate-driven disasters. Record monsoon rains have triggered catastrophic floods, killing thousands and displacing millions. Entire communities have seen homes, crops and infrastructure washed away, with provinces such as Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bearing the brunt of devastation. Northern regions are also at risk due to accelerating glacier melt. Rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of glacial lake outburst floods, which can unleash sudden torrents of water downstream, damaging villages and farmland.

At the same time, Pakistan is grappling with intensifying heatwaves. Prolonged periods of extreme heat have raised serious public health concerns, especially in densely populated urban areas where water shortages and electricity disruptions compound the risks. Experts warn that extreme heat is emerging as a major climate-health emergency. Water scarcity is another growing threat. The Indus River system, which underpins Pakistan’s agriculture and economy, faces mounting stress due to erratic rainfall patterns, glacial retreat and inefficient water management. With agriculture employing a significant portion of the population, disruptions to water supply directly affect food security and economic stability.

Climate shocks are increasingly overlapping floods in one season, drought-like conditions in another creating a cycle of vulnerability that strains disaster response systems and public finances. The economic cost of repeated climate disasters has further complicated Pakistan’s recovery efforts. Experts argue that while domestic adaptation measures are critical, international climate financing and technological support will be essential to help Pakistan build resilience. The report presents a stark reminder that climate change in Pakistan is no longer a distant risk but an unfolding reality with far-reaching humanitarian and economic consequences.