Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan urgently needs to recalibrate its climate governance structures to effectively address intensifying environmental challenges, ranging from unprecedented early-season heat waves to acute water shortages and increasingly frequent climate shocks.

“Ranked among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan faces mounting risks unless it adopts systemic power reforms. Melting glaciers, declining water tables, and rising temperatures are deeply alarming. Overhauling climate governance structures is essential for ensuring future environmental safety and ecological conservation,” stresses Dr Muhammad Akbar, an environmentalist.

Talking exclusively to WealthPK, he said that better climate governance requires a strong focus on adaptation. “Local governments can play a substantial role in shaping and implementing climate policies. Instead of mega infrastructure projects, short-term, smaller-scale initiatives tailored to local economies should be prioritized.

Adaptation plans must be rooted in the realities and needs of different regions across Pakistan. Urban adaptation should also be a key component of climate governance.” Talking to WealthPK, Muhammad Saleem, Deputy Director Communications at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, said: “By recalibrating climate governance, Pakistan can mitigate the impacts of sudden weather changes.”

He said that in April 2025, parts of Pakistan experienced extreme heat, with temperatures reaching up to 48°C — a rare and troubling anomaly for that time of year. This signals a disturbing new normal for heat waves. Simultaneously, rainfall from September 2024 through mid-January dropped by around 40%, triggering widespread droughts in Sindh and Punjab provinces.

Saleem said: “Experts attribute these challenges not only to climate change but also to fragmented governance, limited funding, and weak institutional accountability. Since the 18th Constitutional Amendment, climate oversight has been divided between federal and provincial governments, leading to coordination failures and delays in disbursing funds. Moreover, climate policies are often drafted by non-technical officials, reducing their effectiveness.”

The ministry official noted that recent developments show signs of progress. “Provinces such as Punjab and Balochistan have begun implementing the 2024 Climate Change Policy. The creation of a Climate Change Authority under the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017, aims to unify efforts across government bodies.

A national workshop in September 2024 laid the foundation for a unified Climate Finance Strategy, while a Supreme Court-led conference in June 2025 highlighted the importance of local climate-tech solutions and improved water governance,” he pointed out.

Saleem said: “On the global stage, Pakistan has become more active in climate diplomacy. The country participated in COP20, advocating for regional cooperation on glacier melt and smog. In late 2024, Pakistan joined a coalition supporting a global treaty to phase out fossil fuels, calling for fair access to financing and technology.”

He said that experts have recommended a comprehensive roadmap for reforms, focusing on improving federal-provincial coordination, hiring technical experts to strengthen institutional capacity, ensuring transparency in the allocation and use of climate funds, expanding international climate engagement, and mainstreaming climate considerations into agriculture, energy, water, and urban development policies.

The ministry official said: “The stakes remain high. Pakistan could lose an estimated 7% to 9% of its GDP annually due to climate-related impacts. Meanwhile, the government is under increasing pressure to deliver on a $20 billion World Bank partnership for clean energy and climate resilience.”

He said that without bold reforms, capacity building, transparent financing, and strategic diplomacy, Pakistan risks being overwhelmed by climate disruption. Real change, he stressed, will require political will, institutional coordination, and integrated national action — not just international pledges.

Credit: INP-WealthPk