Pakistan, a land of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures, stands at the forefront of the global climate crisis. While international headlines often paint broad strokes of rising temperatures and erratic weather, the true impact is felt in the lived experiences of its people, city by city, town by town. Within the pages of the 31 White Papers a stark picture emerges, painted by the dedicated work of young climate activists. Their white papers, focusing on 27 distinct urban and semi-urban areas, reveal not just data and projections, but the unfolding human story of a changing climate. Each location bears its own unique scars and faces distinct threats, often manifesting in truly shocking ways.
Let’s journey through these reports, city by city, and confront the stark realities our fellow citizens are facing.
Hafizabad, Where Farming Futures Falter
Our journey begins in Hafizabad, Punjab’s agricultural heartland. Here, the changing climate isn’t an abstract threat; it’s a direct hit on livelihoods. Climate models predict a temperature rise of 1.5°C to 2.5°C by 2050, a seemingly small increment that could drastically reduce agricultural yields, the very backbone of this district. Imagine the anxiety of farmers as the seasons become unpredictable and the land that has sustained generations begins to falter.
Glaciers: Rapid, Fateful Melt
Venturing north to the majestic valleys of Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, the narrative shifts to the dramatic melting of ancient glaciers. The most serious climate threat here is the alarming rate of glacial melt, contributing to a projected 2.5°C temperature increase by 2050, exacerbating water scarcity and escalating the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Picture the serene beauty of these valleys constantly under the shadow of potential catastrophe, their lifeblood of glacial meltwater turning into a source of fear.
Urban Heat Catastrophe
The bustling metropolis of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, grapples with a multitude of climate woes, perhaps none more immediately devastating than its vulnerability to heatwaves. The alarming situation that sends shivers down the spine is the over 1,300 lives lost in the 2015 heatwave alone, a stark reminder of how quickly extreme temperatures can turn deadly in an urban environment already struggling with limited green spaces. Envision the concrete jungle turning into an oven, the most vulnerable left with nowhere to escape the scorching heat.
Shrinking Greens, Drying Taps
Moving inland to Islamabad, the capital city initially envisioned as a green haven, we find a shocking loss of its natural heritage. The alarming fact is that nearly 10% of the city’s tree cover vanished between 2000 and 2023 due to rapid urbanization. Picture the lungs of the city shrinking, the air becoming heavier, and the natural defenses against rising temperatures weakening with every felled tree. Returning to Islamabad, another shocking statistic highlights the immense pressure on its water resources. The city’s dams face a growing shortfall, and groundwater levels are declining rapidly due to over-extraction. Imagine the taps running dry, the anxiety of water scarcity becoming a daily reality in the nation’s capital.
Monsoon’s Devastating Fury
In Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the largely looming threat is the raw power of nature unleashed by altered monsoon patterns. The devastating floods of August 2022 saw a peak discharge of around 400,000 cusecs, a terrifying deluge that swept away homes and livelihoods, underscoring the extreme vulnerability of communities living near the Kabul and Indus rivers. Imagine the sheer force of the water, the devastation it leaves behind, and the long road to recovery for those affected.
Hangu’s Drying Wells
Journeying further into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we reach Hangu, a district facing a silent but critical threat. The alarming drop in groundwater levels, falling by 2-3 meters in the last decade is forcing communities to rely on expensive water tankers. It pants the growing desperation as the wells run dry and the burden of accessing basic water becoming heavier, particularly for low-income families.
Peshawar’s Toxic Air, Impending Exodus:
The historic city of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is facing alarming air pollution levels. Peshawar now ranks among the five most polluted cities globally, a stark consequence of rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and vehicle emissions. Peshawar’s climate vulnerability is further underscored by the alarming projection that over 50% of its population could face climate-induced displacement by 2040. Imagine the mass migrations, the social and economic disruptions, as the city becomes increasingly uninhabitable.
Lahore: Concrete Consumes, Toxic Winter Air
Lahore, Punjab’s cultural heart, faces the devastating consequences of rapid growth on its natural environment. Beyond toxic winter air, characterized by dangerously high PM2.5 levels, making it one of the world’s most polluted cities, the city has also witnessed the conversion of over 200 square kilometers of farmland and green space since the 1980s, intensifying the urban heat island effect. Imagine precious green spaces shrinking, replaced by concrete, further amplifying the already dangerous heat and the air itself becoming a health hazard, impacting the daily lives and long-term well-being of millions.
Rising Heat, Future Threat
In Shahdadpur, Sindh, the main climate threat is the projected temperature rise. The city is expected to see a further 2-3°C increase in average temperatures by 2050, exacerbating already frequent and intense heatwaves in a region where livelihoods are closely tied to agriculture. The relentless energy-draining heat becoming the norm is not only impacting the human health but also their ability to work and sustain families.
Fragile Beauty Threatened
The serene beauty of Hunza Aliabad also masks an intense vulnerability. The region has already experienced an average temperature increase of 1.5°C in Gilgit-Baltistan over the past 50 years, contributing to the melting of glaciers crucial for its water supply. The delicate balance of this high-altitude ecosystem teetering on the brink which is the very source of life threatened by a warming world.
Himalayan Slope Instability
Abbottabad, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, faces a steep increase in extreme rainfall events, with a 20% rise already confirmed, leading to more frequent and intense landslides and flash floods. The constant threat to infrastructure and lives as the once-stable mountain slopes become increasingly precarious.
Transportation’s Toxic Toll
Kharian, Punjab, confronts a rising volume of carbon dioxide emissions from its transportation sector alone, releasing an estimated 172.4 metric tons monthly from just 1,200 daily vehicles. The invisible blanket of greenhouse gases is thickening, which is a direct consequence of our daily commutes and transportation needs.
Threat of Agricultural Decline
Shehr Sultan, Muzaffargarh, faces a serious economic threat to its predominantly agricultural community. Wheat yields have already declined by approximately 10% in the last 15 years, with projections suggesting a further 20% reduction by 2050 due to rising temperatures. The livelihoods of farmers, already grappling with poverty, are being further jeopardized by forces beyond their control.
Unprepared for Floods
Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reveals lack of preparedness for the increasing flood risks, with the absence of a reliable water management system and inadequate urban planning in flood-prone areas. The feeling of helplessness as floodwaters rise is omnipresent knowing that the necessary infrastructure to protect your community is simply not there.
Glaciers: Rapidly Vanishing, Warming Faster
Baltistan, home to Skardu, faces a fast rate of glacial melt, evidenced by the alarming increase in average temperatures from the 1980s to 2006, leading to the formation of dangerous glacial lakes and an increased risk of GLOFs. While in Skardu, mountains in the northern areas are warming at twice the rate of the lowlands, signaling an alarmingly rapid transformation of this fragile high-altitude environment. The majestic glaciers, once symbols of permanence, are now rapidly disappearing, and the accelerated melting amplified impacts on water resources and ecosystems, is threatening the delicate balance of the entire region.
Extreme Heat Threat
Jhang, Punjab, experiences high temperatures, often reaching 45 degrees Celsius in May and June, with increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves. The oppressive heat is becoming unbearable, posing serious health risks, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable.
Tourism’s Polluting Impact
Nagar Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, is facing an adverse economic consequence of its growing tourism industry: significant land, water, air, and sound pollution are damaging the environment and impacting the socio-economic well-being of local communities. The pristine landscapes are being marred by unsustainable practices and consequently the very attraction for tourists is becoming a source of environmental degradation.
Illiteracy Hinders Awareness
North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, faces a widely prevailed problem of the lack of awareness about climate change and adaptation, largely attributed to its high illiteracy rate. It struggles to understand and respond to a crisis when access to information and education is already limited.
Landslides: Fear and Disruption
Dihrkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, experiences rising frequency of landslides due to erratic rainfall patterns, posing substantial risks to the region’s infrastructure and the livelihoods of its inhabitants. The constant fear of unstable slopes and the disruption is caused by these natural disasters.
Floods Breed Disease
Narowal, Punjab, heavily reliant on agriculture, faces an alarming increase in waterborne diseases due to higher temperatures and poor sanitation during floods. The compounding crises of lost harvests and the spread of illnesses are further burdening the already vulnerable communities.
Crop Yield Decline
Chakwal, Punjab, reveals a steep decline in crop yields, with overall yields of wheat and maize decreasing by about 25% due to water scarcity. The growing struggle for food security in a predominantly rural district is dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
Devastating Flood Aftermath
Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, witnessed catastrophic floods in 2022 that displaced 300,000 people and caused $1.5 billion in infrastructure damage, a shocking testament to the region’s vulnerability to intensified monsoon rainfall. The scale of devastation, the loss of homes, and the immense challenge of rebuilding lives are the most perturbing climate woes of this once beautiful valley.
Devastating Winter Drought
Kot Radha Kishen (KRK), Punjab, experienced an whopping 42% reduction in precipitation between September 2024 and mid-January 2025, leading to winter drought, reduced soil moisture, and crop yield losses. The parched land, the withered crops, and the growing anxiety of farmers is facing prolonged dry spells.
Dwindling Water Resources
Mohmand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, faces the underground water crisis, with declining groundwater levels severely threatening its primary economic activities of agriculture and mining. Its vital water resources are dwindling, jeopardizing livelihoods and the very sustainability of the district.
Deforestation Fuels Disaster
Lasbela, Balochistan, grapples with the consequences of unchecked deforestation which is contributing to rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and the devastating floods of 2022. The barren landscapes has stripped of their natural defenses, and has increased their vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Unprepared, Vulnerable, Exposed
Finally, Zhob, Balochistan, reveals a pervasive lack of climate-resilient infrastructure and weak policy implementation for environmental protection, leaving the district highly vulnerable to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events. As a result its community is facing the harsh realities of climate change with limited resources and support to adapt.
Conclusion
The stories woven within the “White Papers’ Compendium” are not just a collection of facts and figures; they are a powerful testament to the urgent need for comprehensive climate action across Pakistan. These shocking realities, experienced by our recently graduated climate activists in their own cities and towns, demand our attention, our empathy, and above all, our collective commitment to building a more resilient and sustainable future for all. The youth who authored these reports have sounded the alarm; it is our responsibility to heed their call.