THE entire world community including Pakistan is now in the severe grip of a dangerous environmental crisis. This natural crisis is so severe that it is now threatening the very existence of the human race. We are now living an age of natural disasters such as air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, floods, Tsunamis, Tornados, cyclones, floods, rising sea levels and droughts. On the other hand, the balance of the environment is being severely disrupted due to the pressure of rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth. The air quality is hazardous almost all year round in major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad industrial waste is poured into rivers which are already dying from pollution and encroachment, and the risks to human health from plastic garbage and vehicle exhaust are constantly increasing.
Pakistan today is ranked 5th most vulnerable country to climate change on the global climate risk Index, the country faces countless pressing environmental issues that affect its economy and people, yet a complex mix of financial and political disorder have completely overshadowed all environmental issues. As recently as August 2022 Pakistan made headlines all over the world as unprecedented floods covered large area of the country that resulted in huge devastation and affected over 33million people including 16 million children. These floods were called the “Climate Catastrophe of the Decade” Almost one third of the entire country was submerged and 1730 people lost their lives while almost 12 million people became homeless. Damages were estimated to be over $30billion with severe damage to the infrastructure including thousands of schools and public health facilities and these floods managed to worsen an already fragile economic situation with inflation reaching 38% and external debt at a record $125 billion.
In a technical analyses published shortly after the floods of 2021, World Weather Attribution said climate change “Likely increased extreme monsoon rainfall” that year with several models and observations indicating that intense rainfall has become heavier as Pakistan warms. during the 2022 monsoon season, Pakistan received more than three times its average rainfall in August, making it the wettest August since 1961, while Southern Sindh and Baluchistan provinces received seven and eight times their usual monthly totals, respectively.Lahore today is one of the most polluted cities of the world with the Air Quality Index (AIQ) remaining at an “unhealthy” level almost the year round. Air pollution is now not only a health risk, but also a cause of social and economic loss. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from diseases ranging from respiratory problems, lung diseases, heart diseases, and cancer.
As climate change alters rainfall patterns, it does not just make monsoon seasons more intense but also more irregular and unpredictable. For a country that heavily relies on water from glacial melt and monsoon rains, variations in these water sources only increase its vulnerability. For example, the 2022 floods followed months of record-breaking temperatures and exceptionally dry conditions. In March of that year, Pakistan received 62% less rainfall than normal and recorded the highest worldwide positive temperature anomaly during that month. And while heatwaves are not uncommon in the season preceding the monsoon, the very high temperatures so early in the year, coupled with a lack of rain, have led to extreme heat conditions, threatening public health and agricultural output.
We must realise that everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment just some group or the government. Environmental reform heavily relies on public involvement and local govt. Ordinary citizens must participate in local waste management, river and canal restoration cleaning and tree plantation. Environmentally friendly farming methods such as the use of organic fertilizer, water saving irrigation systems and soil protective technologies must be embraced by the rural economy. It is also quite evident that civil society and the media are crucial to the success of environmental reforms. People must be persuaded to oppose crimes such as pollution, tree felling, and river encroachment by the media in their local communities, NGOs can support environmental education, forest conservation, and biodiversity preservation. An important aspect of environmental reform is education and awareness.
From primary school through higher education, environmental education ought to be a core component of the curriculum. Environmental protection is now a basic tenet of sustainable development and national advancement, not merely a moral or human obligation. Environment and development go hand in hand, and development is not sustainable when it disregards the environment.
Given Pakistan’s current situation, environmental reform is a necessary and urgent step that requires comprehensive adjustments in all spheres of the economy, institutions, law, policy, education, and technology. Creating a livable world for future generations and establishing a balance between development and environment will be the primary goals of this reform. Pakistan will become a unique model for the world in addressing the 21st-century climate crisis if it makes progress in the areas of renewable energy, green economy, eco-friendly urban planning, and people-based environmental management.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad
