One lays another pays- a phrase rightly explains the current situation of Pakistan. Pakistan not even in the list of culprits emitting carbon emissions yet paying for it costly. Anthropogenic activities warming atmosphere and climate’s toughest response to them are making news round the world. Pakistan’s high vulnerability to climate change is not something undercover and is ranked as the 8^th most environment vulnerable country worldwide, according to Climate Risk Index.

Climate change has put almost the whole world at hazard but geographical location of Pakistan has put it among those South Asian countries that are highly prone to climate-related catastrophes such as melting of glacial ice, river floods and torrential rainfalls, heat waves, cyclones, droughts etc. These unprecedented natural disasters have inflicted tremendous loss in the form of desertification and damage to the agricultural lands, settlements and economy of Pakistan.

Along with industrial and services sector, agriculture has been a crucial player contributing to the GDP of Pakistan since its inception. Pakistan’s arid and semi-arid regions including areas of Sindh, South Punjab and Balochistan have been gradually and intensely falling prey to climate change’s adversarial effects. The consequences of climate change that have brought alarming impact to Pakistan are desertification and land degradation; destroying lands and agriculture resulting in periodical droughts and food shortage.

The current situation of Pakistan is not to be blamed at climate change only rather it has been facing continuous suffering since past 75 years; climate change effects are just adding immense fuel to the fire. Climate change is not the sole responsible of the havoc. There exist other numerous factors that contribute to this series of undesirable and unwelcomed events i.e., inconsistent and inappropriate agricultural practices, overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion, water logging, salinity and woolgathering practices of government have made agriculture sector handicapped.

The ‘urban heat island’ effect caused by innumerable construction projects in urban centers triggering a host of other issues for the inhabitants. According to the predictions of environmental experts, 62 million hectares out of 79.6 million hectares land of Pakistan are vulnerable to desertification, especially in Sindh, Balochistan, and South Punjab. Pakistan has grieved over climate and weather-related disasters due to damage to property, crops, and livestock.

Pakistan is facing consequences that are far from imagination; not only it is devastating for agricultural lands and economy but for the socio-economic development and human security. Alone in 2022, climate-related disasters have engulfed approximately 1739 people and affected 33 million. It also brings water-borne and mal-nutritional diseases which are hard to tackle for the state due to its limited resources.

Pakistan’s cotton and textile exports are among top products in foreign trade and suffered massively. Over 45% of the country’s cotton crops are officially deemed to have been swept away by the flooding. Textile and attire industry have been given a big blow but also expected to be the saviors of Pakistan economy. Besides agriculture and economy, climate change is also showing enmity towards infrastructure and development projects under CPEC. As per reports of 2022, a historical Hassanabad bridge, located along the strategic Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan and China was destroyed and swept away by forceful tides, after a severe heatwave melted a glacier and released torrents of water into a stream.

Pakistan is no more in position to bear any further losses amid already fragile economy with burdened financial resources. Therefore, Pakistan is in dire need of tackling this issue real-quick to save and prevent its lands and socio-economic conditions before it gets too late. To deal with the difficult fact of a hotter future, this necessitates quick and creative action. This needs a collaborative action by federal and provincial government, community engagement, involvement of NGOs, educational institutions to address this very issue. As mentioned before, climate change is not the sole culprit behind degradation and desertification of lands of Pakistan but also the caretakers of these lands have been equally responsible.

The situation is alarming and calls for an all-inclusive action. Federal government should provide finances annually to provincial governments for organizing awareness campaigns, hire scholars and policy experts on environment in order to formulate strategies for immediate action. Provincial governments should install temperature sensors, with accurate readings, informing citizens beforehand the upcoming catastrophe so that they prepare themselves well in time. Besides, government needs to mechanize agriculture sector by introducing new technological methods and train farmers accordingly. As for post-calamity period, government should arrange and organize temporary home cabins for affectees.

Pakistan is now in such an environment emergency state that making haste move is the only option left. By taking swift action, implementing innovative solutions to the growing challenges, and taking a top to bottom approach at national level, Pakistan will be able to safeguard its residents against the relentless surge in temperatures causing havoc to its lands.