e are about to celebrate the 77th independence anniversary of Pakistan. At the time of independence, we had one of the world’s best agricultural and water management systems. It is high time we reflect on what we have done to the environment over the years.

In 1947, Pakistan’s population was 33 million. According to the 1961 Census, Pakistan’s population was 42.8 million. Today, we stand at 245 million in 2024. Pakistan’s first ever environmental law known as the Environmental Protection Ordinance came into effect in 1983, quite late by most standards. Population growth and a lack of political will are two significant issues that have exacerbated the current climate extremes that Pakistan is witnessing today.

Let’s understand how population growth has affected the environment. As the population grows, demand for resources like water, food and energy increases, straining the country’s limited natural reserves. For example, excessive water consumption and population growth have led to a scarcity of safe drinking water and an increase in water contaminants. It is estimated that Pakistan’s water availability per capita has decreased from 5,260 cubic metres in 1951 to about 1,000 cubic meters in recent years, indicating a severe water scarcity situation. Domestic waste and rapid urbanisation have led to more waste generation. According to the World Bank, the country generates approximately 48.5 million tonnes of waste annually, with an estimated 20 million tonnes in urban areas. Mismanagement of waste and unplanned urbanisation have also led to urban flooding during the monsoon season. According to the World Bank, environmental degradation in Pakistan costs the country at least 6 percent of its GDP, or about Rs 365 billion per year.

Rapid warming and the increase in carbon dioxide emission are results of meeting the population demands. Pakistan depends on fossil fuels; therefore, emissions are increasing the temperatures across the country. The rise in temperatures is not only caused by domestic emissions. In fact, global emissions contribute more to this than domestic. Unfortunately, Pakistan (like some other developing countries) is facing disproportionate impacts of increasing temperatures resulting in more frequent and prolonged episodes of heatwaves. This is also causing the melting of glaciers at an alarming rate, forcing displacement of people. According to latest research, if the current trends continue, many cities of Pakistan will become unlivable by 2050.

The population pressure has led to land clearing, which exacerbates flooding. At the same time, more people are now crowded into flood-prone areas. Socio economically vulnerable populations have been rendered more vulnerable. If actions are taken at the federal and provincial levels, these can help in microclimate regulation.

Unsustainable transportation systems are another problem causing the air quality in many cities to deteriorate. Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Islamabad have had the worst air quality indices throughout the year. AQI remains more than 200 (normal range 0-50) in many parts of Pakistan causing severe health issues among the old, children and pregnant women. According to estimates from the WHO Global Health Observatory, about 200 deaths per 100,000 population are attributable to environmental factors in Pakistan.

The second alarming issue is the lack of political will to tackle environmental issues and control population growth. It took Pakistan 36 years to enact its first environmental protection law and even longer to establish the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. Although the PEPO was established in 1983, it remained unimplemented and was withdrawn in 1997. It was replaced by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997, which established a framework for implementing environmental quality standards, protecting species and conserving renewable resources.

In 2010, the 18th Amendment to the constitution gave more powers to the provinces. This included devolving environmental protection. We developed the first National Climate Change Policy in 2012. In the last decade, we have seen a significant increase in environment related policies at the federal and provincial levels, such as provincial environmental policies, electric vehicle policy, clean air policy etc. However, implementation remains a challenge.

The main reason for the lack of political will is the unawareness that climate change is a deeply cross-sectoral issue, meaning it affects and intersects with every sector of society. Its impacts and solutions span various fields, including agriculture, energy, transportation, health, water resources, biodiversity, urban planning and international security. The governments appear to be clueless when it comes to empowering climate and environment related institutions. The climate change ministry is allocated the least funds in the budget. Those in charge are left with few options. Also, in many cases these institutions lack the right person for the right job. According to a United Nation Development Programme report, one of the major barriers for climate change action in Pakistan is the lack of institutionalisation of climate change at federal and provincial levels.

Going forward, Pakistan should make climate change a top priority agenda to save its vulnerable populations from water scarcity, ground water pollution, food insecurity, heatwaves, flooding, glacier melting, bad air quality and biodiversity loss. Climate action today can lead to economic strength tomorrow.

The writer is a PhD scholar in the US. She is also a senior visiting researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. She is also an advisory member on climate change to the state of Vermont, US