The Pakistani Government: Its Effect on Pakistan's Environment

By: Rithin Velmani

Introduction

Pakistan has a population with more than 240 million people and goes through climate issues even though they only lead to approximately 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions every year. The country is ranked as the 5th most vulnerable to climate change on the Global Climate Risk Index. From past events in history, Pakistan has been ruled by many political parties and military governments since its independence in 1947. This complex political environment has had many different impacts on civil freedom, minority groups, and the environment.

Pakistani people are suffering from severe climate injustice. They are disproportionate in terms of the damage caused by ecological disasters, such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and poor air quality. With these severe climate issues, how does the Pakistani government affect its citizens and environment?

Background

Since 1947, Pakistan's political history has been made up by democracy from parliament and military rule. Even though parties in the past have held power, their not being stable politics-wise and a lack of consistent, long-term environmental policy have often affected their progress. For example, the country's first National Climate Change Policy was approved in 2012 by the government elected by democracy of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and an updated version was issued in 2021. These policies were meant to address challenges through adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Present-Day Effects

Pakistan's citizens are currently impacted by the government's response to climate change. The government has attempted to include various strategies, but their effectiveness is often questioned

One of the root causes is deforestation. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Pakistan loses about 11,000 hectares of forest cover every year due to factors such as deforestation, wildfires, and the forest land being conserved for agriculture and housing. The government has made programs like the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme to help with this, which is supposed to plant billions of trees across the country. However, challenges like low rainfall and unsustainable logging practices continue to threaten the country's limited forest cover, which was only 1.7% of its land area in 2020.

Another severe environmental impact is the way the government handled extreme weather events. In August 2022, unusual floods affected one-third of the country, affecting 33 million people and causing an estimated $30.1 billion in damages. The Pakistani government issued a national climate emergency and an agricultural emergency in September 2025 in response to the ongoing monsoon floods. The government's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was involved in relief operations, but the severity of the impact from the disasters often puts strains on the existing infrastructure and resources, mainly in rural and informal settlements that are the most vulnerable.

Change in yearly carbon dioxide emissions in Pakistan from from 1946 to 2022. Credits: Our World in Data

Systems of Injustice

Even though Pakistan has a parliamentary system, the political aspect not being stable can affect long-term climate policy. The government had been criticized for apparently not being prepared and not having enough responses to climate disasters. This can lead to a sense of climate injustice, where vulnerable populations, such as the informal laborers and those living in low-lying areas, face the outcomes of climate impacts. The government's healthcare spending is very low at about 1% of GDP, which puts strain on the system during heatwaves and floods.

There have, however, been some positive changes being made. The Pakistani judiciary is known for helping with environmental rights and has made the state initiate procedures for climate justice. However, activists and critics of the government's environmental policies can still face challenges, and there are concerns about the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in an environment under the influence of politics.

This shows the projected acute food insecurity between November 2023 and January 2024. Credit: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)

Calls To Action

During these difficult times, there are several things that can be done to help. People can donate to organizations that focus on humanitarian aid and disaster relief in Pakistan. Many groups accept donations for clean water, medical aid, and other essential supplies that are important during and after climate disasters.

Donating toward the education of Pakistani children is also very helpful, because they will be the future leaders who must manage and help with these issues.

Lastly, spreading awareness and supporting environmental advocacy groups can make a huge difference. Raising awareness on social media and in schools can help to bring attention to the climate injustice faced by Pakistan and bring support for change.

Groups such as Amnesty, Fridays for Future, and the Ministry of Climate Change come together to call for climate justice in 2019. Credit: Amnesty International

Conclusion

Overall, Pakistan is struggling in terms of their environment due to them being very vulnerable to climate change and a complex political landscape that can affect effective, long-term policy. The country goes through severe weather issues, from devastating floods to deadly heatwaves. Even though the government has made some efforts, such as the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme and climate policies, the impact of the challenges and a lack of consistently being implenented continues to be major obstacles. The people of Pakistan face climate injustice, and it is important to support them through donations, volunteering, and spreading awareness.

Get Involved

Climate Kills Initiative is always inclusive and accepts passionate people into all of their programs. Their website offers detailed information about the programs, volunteer opportunities, and how to apply. Once accepted, volunteers can expect a collaborative environment that encourages impact through creativity and open mindedness. Participants will receive mentorship throughout their projects, and CKI actively promotes networking, allowing them to learn from each other's experiences.

Sources: 1. Amnesty.org 2. Earth.org 3. Theigc.org 4. Globalforestwatch.org 5. Aa.com.tr 6. Insideclimatenews.org 7. Arabnews.com 8. Idea.int 9. Tribune.com.pk 10. Pmc.ncbi.nlm.gov