The Rising Waters: Climate Change Drives Recurrent Floods in Pakistan

Sun Nov 02 2025 12:23:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Pakistan faces escalating monsoon floods, the devastating impact of climate change becomes alarmingly evident. With over a million people displaced and vast agricultural lands submerged, the nation struggles amid worsening environmental conditions.

The recurring monsoon floods in Pakistan have resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life, particularly affecting vulnerable communities. This year's floods have submersed over 4,500 villages and led to multiple fatalities. With climate change exacerbating these conditions, local authorities are criticized for inadequate infrastructure and governance. While some innovative solutions are proposed, many residents remain stranded in precarious situations, showcasing the urgent need for systemic change.

Devastation on repeat: How climate change is worsening Pakistan's deadly floods

Rescuers and relatives searched knee-deep in water for the body of one-year-old Zara. She'd been swept away by flash floods; the bodies of her parents and three siblings had already been found days earlier.

By late August, further south in the province of Punjab, floods had submerged 4,500 villages, overwhelming 'Pakistan's breadbasket,' in a country that can't always afford to import enough food.

The South Asian nation is struggling with the devastating consequences of climate change, despite emitting just 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every year, monsoon season brings deadly floods in Pakistan, with this year proving particularly destructive.

This year's floods began in late June and continued through the summer, claiming the lives of over 1,000 people and displacing around 2.7 million individuals according to the UN.

The danger takes various forms in different regions, from glacial lake outbursts in the north to flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in western provinces, continually putting lives at risk.

Climate scientist Fahad Saeed highlights that illegal construction exacerbates flooding issues, while government officials often turn a blind eye to these infractions.

Architect Yasmeen Lari has been proposing 'climate-resilient housing' solutions for vulnerable communities. However, the scale of the challenges posed by climate change in Pakistan continues to grow, with the hardest hit often being the poorest.