Pakistan’s Unspoken Climate Emergency: A Devastating Reality for Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan’s Climate Emergency is worsening, and regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face devastating risks from floods, glacier melt, and deforestation. Learn why a climate emergency declaration is urgent for survival.
Pakistan’s Climate Emergency is no longer a hypothetical scenario—it is unfolding every year with devastating consequences. From record-breaking floods in 2022 to recurring heatwaves and droughts, the evidence is overwhelming. Yet, despite being one of the world’s top ten climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan has not officially declared a climate emergency.
Such silence raises urgent questions: How much longer can Pakistan delay recognizing climate change as an existential threat? And why are Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)—the country’s northern lifelines—being left unprotected?
Why Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Matter
Gilgit-Baltistan is home to 7,000+ glaciers, known as the “water towers of South Asia.” The Indus River, which sustains agriculture in Punjab and Sindh, originates here. Similarly, KP is a gateway to river basins, forests, and fertile valleys that feed Pakistan’s economy.
When glaciers in GB melt or when floods strike KP, the impacts cascade downstream, affecting millions across the Indus Basin. These are not peripheral regions; they are central to Pakistan’s water, food, and energy security.
Recurring Disasters: Lessons Unlearned
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2022 Super Floods: Submerged one-third of Pakistan, displacing 33 million people and destroying crops worth billions.
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Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Increasingly frequent in Hunza, Ghizer, and Skardu, endangering thousands.
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Flash Floods in KP: Districts like Swat and Chitral see repeated devastation of bridges, homes, and farmland.
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Deforestation: Rampant cutting of forests in KP accelerates soil erosion and worsens flood impacts.
Despite repeated disasters, responses remain episodic rather than systemic, exposing a critical governance gap.
The Urgent Case for Declaring a Climate Emergency
Declaring Pakistan’s Climate Emergency would be more than a symbolic gesture—it would be a strategic realignment of national priorities. Countries such as the UK, Canada, and New Zealand have already declared emergencies, enabling climate-focused policies and funding streams.
For Pakistan, an official declaration could:
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Reorient federal and provincial budgets toward climate adaptation.
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Unlock access to international climate finance such as the Green Climate Fund and the Loss and Damage Fund under the UN.
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Signal seriousness to investors, NGOs, and global partners.
Risks of a Hollow Declaration
Of course, an empty announcement carries risks. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial bodies have faced criticism for being reactive, underfunded, and bureaucratic. Declaring a climate emergency without institutional reform would risk credibility and international skepticism.
For the declaration to matter, it must come with:
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Strengthened disaster management authorities.
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Community-based adaptation programs.
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Integration of local research institutions into climate monitoring.
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Greater participation of local communities in planning.
What an Emergency Declaration Could Achieve
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Access to International Climate Finance
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Both GB and KP could directly secure funds to tackle glacial melt, floods, and landslides.
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Improved Disaster Preparedness
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Faster establishment of early warning systems for GLOFs.
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Development of climate-resilient housing and safe relocation plans.
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Renewable Energy Transition
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Shift mountain households from firewood to solar, wind, and micro-hydel projects.
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Preserve forests while enhancing energy access.
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National Recognition
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Position GB and KP at the center of Pakistan’s climate strategy instead of leaving them marginalized.
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Voices from the Frontlines
For the farmers of Swat, every flash flood means starting over. For the residents of Hunza, each summer brings the fear of glacial lakes bursting. And for millions across Pakistan who depend on northern waters, these crises are not local—they are national.
Civil society groups, academics, and provincial officials have consistently demanded a climate emergency declaration, but federal hesitation persists.
Conclusion: From Hesitation to Urgency
Pakistan’s Climate Emergency is already here—it is not a problem for the future. Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the frontlines of survival, and yet they remain neglected in national climate planning.
Declaring a climate emergency won’t solve every challenge overnight, but it will send a powerful signal: Pakistan is ready to confront climate change as a matter of national security, not just environmental policy.
The choice is stark—continue to treat floods and glacier bursts as seasonal misfortunes, or finally confront them as the true climate emergency they are.
