Pakistan Slams Climate Injustice as Deadly Floods Devastate Nation Again

Pakistan slams climate injustice once again, as deadly monsoon rains bring chaos to the country. With over 32 lives lost in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces due to flash floods, the nation is confronting another climate catastrophe just a year after severe flooding wreaked havoc.

As the country reels from back-to-back disasters, Pakistan’s climate change minister Musadiq Malik has criticized the global funding imbalance, calling it not just a funding issue, but a “moral failure.”

Rising Toll from Monsoon Devastation

Since the beginning of the 2025 monsoon season, Pakistan has experienced multiple rounds of destructive rainfall, with officials confirming over 32 deaths across northern and central regions.

In 2024, the country also suffered from severe spring storms, killing dozens and damaging infrastructure. The cycle of disaster, as some experts call it, continues unabated. Pakistan’s monsoon season, once predictable, has turned erratic and violent under the pressure of climate change.

Related Post: How Monsoons Are Changing Due to Climate Change in South Asia

A Crisis of Justice, Not Just Climate

Minister Musadiq Malik said,

“I don’t look at this as a crisis of climate. I look at this as a crisis of justice. This lopsided allocation of green funding — I see it as a moral gap.”

Malik’s remarks highlight growing frustration from countries like Pakistan, which contribute less than 0.5% to global carbon emissions but face the most brutal consequences of a warming planet.

Funding Gap or Moral Failure?

Pakistan’s annual climate investment needs are estimated between $40-50 billion until 2050. But the pledges it has received are nowhere near sufficient.

• In 2023, $10 billion was pledged by donor countries and international institutions.
• By 2024, Pakistan had only received $2.8 billion.
• The IMF announced a new $1.3 billion climate resilience loan, but experts argue this falls short given the scale of damage.

Malik also noted the injustice of green finance distribution:

“The top 10 countries contribute nearly 70% of emissions yet receive 85% of green financing. The remaining 180 countries fight over 15% of the funds.”

Glaciers Melting, Risks Rising

Pakistan is home to over 13,000 glaciers, the largest number outside the polar regions. A recent joint study by Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and EvK2CNR, an Italian research institute, warned:

• Rising temperatures are accelerating glacial melt.
• Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are becoming more frequent.
• Downstream effects include flooding, loss of farmland, damaged infrastructure, and water scarcity.

“Thousands of years of civilization in Sindh have been swept away. Mosques, temples, schools, and heritage sites — all gone,” the report stated.

Pakistan’s Climate Ranking: A Red Flag

According to the Climate Risk Index Report 2025, based on 2022 data, Pakistan ranked among the top most affected countries globally.

• In 2022, one-third of the country was underwater.
• More than 33 million people were affected.
• 1,700+ deaths, $14.8 billion in damages, and $15.2 billion in economic losses were reported.

Despite these grim numbers, international climate finance has not kept pace.

Healthcare and Vulnerable Populations at Risk

A recent Amnesty International report raised red flags about Pakistan’s preparedness.
The report found:

• Children and older people are at higher risk of death during floods and heatwaves.
• Healthcare systems are underfunded and lack disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• Poor access to clean drinking water and medical facilities exacerbates disaster impacts.

“Pakistan’s healthcare and disaster response systems are failing to meet the needs of vulnerable populations,” said Laura Mills, from Amnesty’s Crisis Response Programme.

Call to Action

Pakistan’s voice is part of a global chorus demanding climate justice, especially from industrialized nations. To move toward equity and resilience, key steps must include:

1. Fulfillment of Climate Finance Pledges
2. Access to Loss and Damage Funds
3. Debt Relief in Exchange for Climate Adaptation Programs
4. Stronger Regional Cooperation on Glacial and Water Management
5. Technology Transfers for Climate Resilience

Conclusion

Pakistan slams climate injustice not just as a political statement, but as a plea for survival. The country’s deadly floods and heatwaves are becoming a tragic annual pattern, even though its emissions remain negligible.

With lives lost, infrastructure damaged, and glaciers melting, Pakistan is on the frontline of a climate war it didn’t start. The world must respond — not with promises, but with action, justice, and equitable financing.

External Links:

• Al Jazeera – Pakistan Climate Minister Interview
• Amnesty International Climate Report
• Climate Risk Index 2025

Internal Links:

• Pakistan’s Climate Adaptation Budget: 2025 Breakdown
• What is Climate Injustice and Why It Matters
• Heatwave Kills 600 in Pakistan: A Public Health Emergency