Impacts of Climate Change in Pakistan 2025 | Floods, Heatwaves, Cloudbursts – What’s Next?

Pakistan in 2025 is no longer waiting for climate change, it is living through it. Flooded streets in Punjab, parched fields in Sindh, and cloudbursts tearing through northern valleys paint a grim picture of a nation caught in nature’s crossfire. What was once a distant warning has become a daily reality.

According to the United Nations and NASA, climate change is the long-term alteration of temperatures and weather patterns caused largely by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases. 

The IPCC warns that global warming is amplifying extreme events, heavier rains, longer droughts, deadlier heatwaves, with devastating intensity in vulnerable regions.

Pakistan, despite contributing less than 1% of global emissions, ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Its geography, from Himalayan glaciers to the Indus delta, places millions at the mercy of shifting monsoons, rising temperatures, and unstable river systems. 

For farmers, children, and urban communities alike, climate change is not an abstract concept. The effects of climate change in Pakistan nightmare are like a storm that has already arrived, demanding resilience and urgent action.

Before working towards a solution it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the issue. In this blog Chakor lets you explore more about climate change.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global climate patterns, primarily driven by human activities. As explained by the United Nations, NASA, and the IPCC, while Earth’s climate has naturally fluctuated for millennia, the current pace of warming is unprecedented. 

The widespread burning of fossil fuels, rapid industrialization, and deforestation have accelerated greenhouse gas emissions to levels unseen in human history, altering weather systems and destabilizing natural balances.

What are the Causes of Climate Change in Pakistan?

There are multiple reasons for climate change in Pakistan. At the heart of this crisis are greenhouse gases (GHGs), which trap heat in the atmosphere much like a blanket around the Earth. The EPA identifies carbon dioxide (CO₂) from burning coal, oil, and gas as the largest contributor, followed by methane (CH₄) released from agriculture, landfills, and energy production. 

Deforestation compounds the problem by reducing nature’s ability to absorb CO₂. The result is a rapidly warming planet that disrupts rainfall, fuels heatwaves, and melts glaciers at alarming rates.

Global Impacts

Effects of climate change are both global and uneven. According to NASA, the planet’s average surface temperature has already increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, making the last decade the hottest on record. If unchecked, the world could heat by up to 3.1°C by 2100. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that climate change is already responsible for over 250,000 additional deaths annually worldwide due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress.

Extreme weather prolonged droughts, erratic monsoons, violent cyclones is disrupting food systems and displacing millions.

Pakistan’s Contribution vs. Vulnerability

Here lies one of the starkest injustices of the climate crisis: Pakistan contributes less than 1% to global emissions, yet it is among the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries bearing the impacts of climate change in Pakistan.. 

Its geography makes it uniquely exposed from melting glaciers in the north, fertile but flood-prone plains in the center, to a fragile coastline in the south. 

The 2022 super floods displaced over 33 million people, a figure greater than the population of Australia, and in 2025, Punjab and Sindh again face devastating riverine floods and heatwaves.

A Cruel Paradox

The numbers tell a painful story: those who pollute the least pay the highest price. For Pakistan, climate change is not an academic debate, it is a lived crisis eroding livelihoods, damaging health, and threatening survival itself. 

The melting of Himalayan glaciers, erratic monsoons, and deadly heatwaves make it clear: unless global emissions are curbed and local resilience strengthened, Pakistan’s future remains hostage to forces it did little to unleash.

The 2025 Catastrophes: A Nation in Crisis

Pakistan in 2025 is not facing ordinary weather, it is facing extremes amplified by climate change. Scientists warn that rising global temperatures are making floods heavier, heatwaves deadlier, droughts harsher, and cloudbursts more violent. These are not natural “disasters” in isolation, but climate-driven phenomena, reshaped by human activity and global warming.

Floods in Pakistan 2025

Flooding in Pakistan is one of the clearest signs of climate stress. Riverine floods occur when rivers swell beyond their banks due to excessive rainfall or glacial melt, while flash floods are sudden torrents from cloudbursts or intense downpours in hilly terrain.

Climate scientists, including those at World Weather Attribution (WWA) and the IPCC, stress that global warming increases atmospheric moisture by ~7% per 1°C of warming, making monsoon rains heavier and floods more destructive.

• Over 300 lives lost, including 140 children (WWA).
• 230 mm of rainfall in Rawalpindi in just 24 hours, overwhelming urban drainage.
• Thousands of homes collapsed in informal settlements.
• Riverine floods in Punjab swept through Punjab and Sindh, submerging croplands.
• Flash floods in KP destroyed mountain roads, bridges, and schools.
• WWA study: rainfall intensity was 22% higher due to climate change.
  

Flood in Pakistan 2025

Droughts | Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in Pakistan

Droughts represent the opposite extreme prolonged water shortages caused by reduced rainfall, rising evaporation, and overuse of resources. 

Scientists (UNEP, World Bank) note that climate change disrupts rainfall cycles, while glacier retreat reduces Pakistan’s natural water storage. 

This creates a paradoxical cycle where floods and droughts occur in quick succession, a trend already visible in South Asia.

• Balochistan and Sindh faced crop failures after monsoons.
• Farmers describe agriculture as “gambling with nature” (Al Jazeera).
• Erratic rainfall and glacial melt deepened water stress.
• Soil erosion post-flood further reduced crop yields.
• Canal water shortages triggered local disputes in Punjab.

Drought Impacts 2025

Heatwaves 

A heatwave is a prolonged period of extreme heat that exceeds the usual climate norms of an area. According to NASA and WHO, climate change increases both the frequency and severity of heatwaves by trapping more heat in the atmosphere.

Urban “heat islands” where concrete and pollution trap warmth make cities like Karachi and Lahore even more dangerous. Scientists call heatwaves “silent killers”, as deaths rise gradually through dehydration, stroke, and respiratory stress.

• 600+ deaths recorded across Sindh & Balochistan (Al Jazeera).
• Temperatures exceeded 50°C in Jacobabad and Karachi.
• Outdoor labor became impossible for millions.
• Energy blackouts worsened the crisis, leaving millions without cooling.
• 11 million children under five are exposed to smog in Punjab (UNICEF).

Heatwave Impacts 2024–2025

Cloudbursts

A cloudburst is an extreme downpour in a very short time, often releasing more than 100 mm of rain within an hour. Global warming fuels these events: warmer air holds more water vapor, which can suddenly release as violent rainfall. 

In mountainous regions like KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, cloudbursts quickly turn into flash floods and landslides, overwhelming communities. The Conversation and Islamic Relief report that Pakistan’s northern valleys are now highly exposed to this new “normal.”

• Swat, Bajaur, and Chitral valleys hit by torrential bursts.
• Homes swept away in minutes.
• Mountain roads collapsed, isolating villages.
• Schools and clinics destroyed, families displaced.
• Thousands required emergency shelter and aid (Islamic Relief).

Cloudburst Impacts 2025

Pakistan’s 2025 Climate Catastrophes At a Glance

Impact on Lives and Livelihoods

Climate change is not only destroying landscapes, it is dismantling lives. In Pakistan, the brunt of these disasters falls heaviest on those least able to defend themselves: children and farmers. 

From polluted air and flooded schools to parched farmlands and lost harvests, the everyday struggle of survival is becoming harsher each year.

Children at the Frontlines

Children are the most vulnerable to climate shocks, and in Pakistan they are bearing the heaviest burden. Scientists and humanitarian agencies warn that floods, droughts, heatwaves, and toxic air are creating a “triple threat” for child health, education, and survival. 

According to UNICEF, millions of Pakistani children are caught in the crossfire of a crisis they did not cause.

• 6+ million children will be directly affected by floods and landslides in 2024.
• 11 million children under five in Punjab are exposed to toxic air and smog.
• Malnutrition rates rising as repeated disasters disrupt food supplies.
• Collapsed schools and unsafe shelters interrupt education.
• Lack of climate-resilient infrastructure leaves children vulnerable in both rural and urban settings.

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture in Pakistan

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and the livelihood for millions yet it is under siege from climate extremes. As the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) notes, agriculture contributes 24% of GDP and supports nearly 40 million people. 

Floods wash away fields, droughts parch the soil, and heatwaves scorch crops before harvest. Farmers are describing their lives as “gambling with nature,” never knowing if the season will bring too much water or none at all.

• Wheat and cotton yields fell by 13.5% in 2025 due to floods and erratic rainfall (Al Jazeera, PBS).
• Repeated climate disasters are forcing rural families into migration.
• The 2022 super floods displaced 8 million people, many of them farmers (UNDP).
• Livestock losses add to food insecurity, reducing household income.
• Farmers in Sindh and Balochistan face mounting debts as crops fail year after year.

Scientific Evidence and Attribution

The climate disasters of 2025 are not accidents of nature; they are backed by clear scientific evidence linking them to global warming. Studies by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and the IPCC confirm that what once seemed like “natural” extremes now carry an undeniable climate fingerprint.

• The 2025 floods were not rare meteorologically, but global warming made them 22% more intense. Warmer air holds more moisture, meaning when the monsoon arrives, it does so with unprecedented fury.
• Historical monsoon data now shows a consistent shift in patterns: rains arrive erratically, fall harder, and cause wider destruction than in past decades.
• Pakistan sits at the foot of the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, home to 13,000+ glaciers. As these glaciers melt faster due to warming, they swell rivers during monsoons, increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and simultaneously reduce long-term water availability.
• Scientists warn that without drastic global emission cuts, South Asia will continue to experience both mega-floods and crippling droughts, putting millions at risk.

Government Response & Climate Adaptation Challenges | Future Threats of Climate Change in Pakistan

Pakistan’s response to climate disasters has been a mixture of resilience, underfunding, and systemic weaknesses. Dealing with climate change challenges in Pakistan should be the top priority of officials and relevant authorities at this moment. The scale of repeated disasters has outpaced institutional capacity, leaving long-term adaptation still more aspiration than reality.

• After the 2022 super floods, recovery needs were estimated at $16.3 billion yet only about half that funding ever materialized, delaying reconstruction and leaving communities exposed when the 2025 floods struck.
• According to WWA and UNDP estimates, Pakistan will require nearly $152 billion in adaptation investment by 2030 to build climate resilience. This includes strengthening river embankments, redesigning cities, building water reservoirs, and modernizing agriculture. As of now, this funding remains largely unmet.
• Weak governance compounds the challenge:
  
  • Urban planning failures mean cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi are repeatedly flooded due to clogged drains and unregulated expansion.
  • Deforestation in the north strips natural defenses, increasing landslide and flood risk.
  • Weak enforcement of building codes leaves homes in floodplains and seismic zones dangerously fragile.

In the absence of climate-smart governance, every heavy rain becomes a disaster and every heatwave a humanitarian crisis. The gap between policy on paper and action on the ground continues to widen, leaving Pakistan locked in a cycle of response rather than prevention.

Humanitarian Impact

Climate change in Pakistan is not just an environmental crisis it is a human tragedy. Disasters strip people of homes, safety, and dignity, leaving millions in a constant state of vulnerability.

• Mass displacement: Hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes in search of safer ground, many ending up in temporary shelters or informal camps.
• Lives lost: Rising death tolls come not only from drowning and collapsing homes, but also from secondary effects like disease outbreaks.
• Children at risk: Malnutrition, diarrhea, dengue, and other waterborne diseases have surged, leaving children most exposed. Lack of safe drinking water and healthcare worsens survival rates.
• Mental health toll: Beyond physical destruction, families suffer trauma from repeated losses of loved ones, livelihoods, and stability. Anxiety, grief, and hopelessness have become silent but widespread consequences.

Agriculture & Food Security

Agriculture, the lifeline of Pakistan’s economy and food supply, is under siege. Climate extremes repeatedly batter farmland, eroding both yields and farmer resilience.

• Farmlands submerged: Wheat, rice, and sugarcane fields in Punjab and Sindh are frequently lost to floods.
• Drought cycles: Where water once brought life, scarcity now withers crops, making farming unsustainable in regions like Balochistan.
• Livestock losses: Cattle, goats, and poultry perish during floods and droughts, cutting off both nutrition and income for rural households.
• Rising prices: With less supply reaching markets, food inflation spikes, making staples unaffordable for the poor.
• Future insecurity: Climate models warn that without adaptation, Pakistan could face chronic food shortages, with millions at risk of hunger.

Economic and Social Fallout

Every climate disaster translates into economic loss, social strain, and institutional breakdown. For Pakistan, the cost is counted in billions, but the impact goes far beyond numbers.

• GDP shocks: Climate disasters cut deep into growth, draining productivity and revenues. Inflation spikes follow as food and energy supplies falter.
• Infrastructure losses: Roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals are destroyed, with reconstruction costs running into billions.
• Urban flooding: Cities like Lahore and Karachi are overwhelmed by poor drainage and unplanned expansion, turning monsoon rains into urban disasters.
• Forced migration: With rural livelihoods destroyed, millions move to cities, stretching already scarce resources, housing, and services.
• Widening inequality: Vulnerable groups bear the greatest cost, deepening poverty and social instability.

Adaptation vs. Aid

Pakistan’s experience reveals a dangerous cycle: disaster strikes, aid arrives, recovery begins, and then disaster strikes again. This cycle is unsustainable. What is needed is adaptation, not just aid.

• Aid fatigue: Repeated crises have left global donors stretched, sparking calls to shift from relief to resilience.
• Preparedness tools: Early warning systems, strengthened river embankments, and sustainable water reservoirs are urgently required.
• Resilient farming and housing: Climate-smart agriculture, drought-resistant crops, and adaptive urban architecture can protect communities.
  Financing gap: Pakistan requires massive climate finance for adaptation but current funding falls drastically short of needs.
  

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Pakistan?

The burning question is how to control climate change in Pakistan? The future of Pakistan is uncertain, but one truth is clear: climate extremes will intensify. Scientists warn that without urgent action, floods, droughts, and sea level rise will strike harder and more often.

Mega-floods are expected to become more frequent as monsoon systems bring record-breaking rainfall. Rivers in Punjab and Sindh will overflow, overwhelming embankments and washing away entire communities. To counter this, Pakistan must strengthen flood defenses, enforce zoning laws against building in floodplains, and expand early warning systems. Without these measures, every monsoon season will be a new disaster.

Droughts will also deepen. Rising temperatures and shrinking glaciers will reduce the Indus River’s flows, threatening agriculture and drinking water. Pakistan will need better water storage, efficient irrigation systems, and a shift toward drought-resistant crops. Policies encouraging smart farming and discouraging wasteful practices are critical to securing the nation’s food supply.

Sea level rise poses another grave risk, especially for coastal Sindh. Saltwater intrusion will poison farmland, while low-lying settlements face submergence. Building coastal defenses, restoring mangroves, and planning for gradual relocation must become part of national strategy.

By 2047, as Pakistan approaches its centenary, the country faces a defining question: will it adapt and build resilience, or collapse under climate pressure? The answer depends on whether urgent reforms are made stronger governance, sustainable urban planning, reforestation, and integration of climate risks into development policies.

Survival will demand more than aid or temporary fixes. Pakistan must embrace bold, long-term reforms, supported by global cooperation and local accountability. Without this shift, the road ahead will grow darker. With it, there is still hope for a safer, more resilient future.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s reality in 2025 is a stark reminder of climate injustice a nation contributing less than 1% of global emissions is enduring some of the world’s harshest floods, droughts, and heatwaves. The call to action is urgent: Pakistan must invest in early warning systems, resilient cities, and climate-smart agriculture, but it cannot do so alone. The global community has a moral duty to stand with countries on the frontline, providing finance, technology, and solidarity. If the world fails to find a solution for climate change in Pakistan, our struggle today will become everyone’s tomorrow.