The great eraser

As the climate crisis intensifies in Pakistan, the suffering is not confined to the environment. The destruction of agricultural livelihoods and the forced migration of people are disrupting long-held traditions and practices tied to the land. Rural people, whose lives and celebrations are inseparably linked with the land, confront an uncertain future as changing weather patterns disturb farming and festivals.

Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage sites are under threat too, with historical places such as Mohenjo-Daro increasingly at the mercy of flooding and erosion. The loss of these monuments is an unrecoverable damage to our identity. To preserve both our culture and environment, Pakistan must integrate cultural heritage preservation into climate adaptation strategies.

Muhammad Shahjahan Memon

Islamabad