In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods, causing significant financial and human losses. These events are exacerbated by deforestation, which reduces the natural resilience of ecosystems and increases vulnerability to climate risks. In this context, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked that “the rapid deforestation occurring through collusion is a serious matter. Employees and officers involved in tree cutting should be dismissed; the forestry department has become more about personal benefits than protecting forests.”
Deforestation in Pakistan has been particularly noticeable in regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northern areas, and the Indus Valley, where forest cover is continuously declining. Despite the presence of numerous departments, officers and employees enjoy benefits without delivering results. This could be seen as a game of looting the national treasury, unchecked by any effective system of oversight. Climate change’s impact on Pakistan is becoming increasingly evident, with rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns affecting agriculture, water resources, and public health.
For instance, the devastating floods of 2010 and 2015 were exacerbated by deforestation, which reduced forests’ natural capacity to absorb and manage water. Achieving sustainable forestry and curbing deforestation in Pakistan remains challenging. Issues such as land degradation, weak enforcement of forest laws, and a lack of community involvement hinder conservation efforts. Additionally, unchecked population growth is contributing to deforestation, as new colonies and towns spring up without restraint.
Over the past two decades, millions of acres of fertile land and millions of trees have been cleared for construction, yet many areas remain uninhabited, and the land is no longer suitable for cultivation. The situation in Pakistan is rapidly becoming dangerous, with forest cover dropping from over four percent to just two percent, far below the 25 percent minimum recommended by experts for any country. The depletion of trees is weakening the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
Even the bleak future of upcoming generations has not deterred this reckless exploitation. Combined, climatic events, environmental degradation, and air pollution could reduce Pakistan’s GDP by 18 to 20 percent by 2050. Climate change also affects people’s livelihoods and living standards. Developing countries like Pakistan contribute little to the factors causing climate change and have minimal direct involvement in these processes.
Despite this, these countries must accept and deal with the impacts, as Pakistan is currently doing. Pakistan is among the ten countries most affected by climate change-induced natural disasters. These effects are increasingly evident, as demonstrated by the 0.63°C annual rise in temperatures over the last century and the sea level along Pakistan’s Arabian Sea coast rising by one millimeter annually. Climate and weather experts predict that these impacts will intensify in the coming years.
Currently, 52 percent of all land used for food production is affected by moderate or severe soil erosion. In the long term, a lack of fertile soil could result in lower yields and food insecurity. The primary causes of climate change are the use of coal, gas, and oil. Burning these fuels also leads to environmental pollution. Since the onset of fossil fuel use, the world has warmed by approximately 1.2°C. These fuels are used in power plants, transportation, and home heating.
Excessive water use, environmentally harmful industrial activities such as emissions of polluting gases and contaminated water, and vehicle emissions are also contributing factors. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s energy. Human activities that harm the environment are driving climate change. Agriculture uses 95 percent of water, while 4.5 percent is used for domestic needs, as farmers continue to rely on outdated flood irrigation methods.
Pakistan’s water resources amount to only 224.8 billion cubic meters, while the population has doubled. The country lacks water recycling systems, unlike Singapore, which recycles 40 percent of its used water. Groundwater recharging is also neglected, ranking Pakistan 164th in the world in replenishing groundwater levels. The low price of water—$2 per cubic meter compared to $55 in Malaysia—also contributes to its excessive waste.
Pakistan lacks proper water storage methods, resulting in floods that necessitate dams. Currently, only five percent of Pakistan’s area is covered by forests, whereas 25 to 35 percent is necessary for a green country. Thus, more trees must be planted to increase forest cover. The government should construct small and large dams in different areas to store water during rains and floods. Pakistan relies on oil and coal for energy, which produces greenhouse gases harmful to the environment. Therefore, people should be encouraged to walk and cycle more, conserving energy and protecting the environment.
Climate change has a profound impact on agriculture and threatens food security because, like human life, trees and plants require specific temperatures, air, and environments. In light of climate change, drought-resistant trees and plants should be cultivated, requiring less water and tolerating higher temperatures. Farmers often rely on flood irrigation for water-intensive crops like sugarcane and rice.
These crops consume excessive water and deplete groundwater reserves, lowering water tables and causing salinization, which renders the soil unsuitable for the next growing season. The government should encourage the use of digital technologies, modern farming techniques, and diverse crops through subsidies.
It has often been suggested that millions of trees could be planted along the country’s motorways, and if these trees bore fruit, their sale and export could generate valuable foreign exchange while enhancing the environment. Reducing carbon emissions will help mitigate the effects of global warming in Pakistan. The government should introduce mass transit projects in major cities and encourage the public to switch to electric vehicles, which would also reduce the heavy import bills for oil and ease inflation driven by rising oil prices. Offering subsidies on solar equipment would incentivize the adoption of solar energy, helping to ease the pressure on the power supply.
The government alone cannot tackle climate change; community support is essential. Pakistanis need to be better informed about the harmful effects of climate change and the importance of water conservation. Sustainable, community-led development projects should be implemented to address the needs and concerns of marginalized groups, including the poor, women, disabled individuals, and indigenous groups. Pakistan must consider building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economy against climate change.