Climate Concerns Grow as Dry Weather Grips Pakistan
Andleeb Khan
Islamabad: As Pakistan experiences a prolonged dry spell this winter, December is passing without any significant rainfall, deepening concerns across the country.
The continued dryness is exacerbating water scarcity, reducing agricultural productivity, and worsening public health conditions, including respiratory issues, skin problems, and viral infections linked to increased dust and low humidity levels.
Experts caution that without timely action and localized preparedness, the challenges posed by the ongoing dry season could intensify, threatening public health and economic stability.
Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Climate Change and Environmental Policy Specialist and Media Spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the government’s initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly in rain-fed areas.
Speaking to APP, he noted that these regions are highly vulnerable to erratic weather patterns, droughts, and floods—all exacerbated by climate change.
A flagship initiative in this regard is the Recharge Pakistan Programme, launched in collaboration with national and international partners. This program focuses on enhancing climate resilience in rain-fed areas through sustainable water management, rainwater harvesting, and ecosystem restoration.
The initiative aims to address challenges such as unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather events that threaten agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
“Under the Recharge Pakistan Programme, efforts are being made to utilize floodwaters for recharging groundwater, reducing flood risks, developing water storage systems and wetlands, and promoting sustainable water extraction practices,” Shaikh explained.
These measures are designed to ensure water availability, support sustainable agriculture, and encourage climate-smart farming practices.
In addition to addressing water scarcity, the Ministry is taking steps to mitigate the environmental damage caused by agricultural residue burning, a practice that worsens air pollution during dry seasons.
This issue is particularly severe in urban areas, where smog levels rise. To combat this, the Punjab government has introduced subsidized machinery such as Happy Seeders, which sow seeds without burning stubble, along with mulchers and balers to recycle crop waste.
“In line with the National Climate Change Policy, the Ministry is incentivizing the reuse of crop residues,” Shaikh said. Farmers are being encouraged to convert agricultural waste into bioenergy, compost, and animal feed.
Furthermore, biofuel plants are being established to transform agricultural residues into energy. Provincial environmental protection agencies are also stepping up enforcement against open burning by imposing fines and offering support for alternative practices.
Workshops and training sessions have been organized to educate farmers about the health and environmental risks of stubble burning and to demonstrate alternative methods for managing crop waste. Through legal enforcement, farmer incentives, and public awareness campaigns, the Ministry aims to address this issue effectively.
The prolonged dry spell has significantly impacted rain-fed crops such as wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, and maize.
These crops depend on consistent weather patterns, which have become increasingly erratic due to climate change. This disruption threatens crop yields, jeopardizes farm livelihoods, and exacerbates food insecurity, particularly among vulnerable farming communities.
Health concerns are also mounting as dry conditions intensify respiratory problems for individuals with pre-existing lung conditions, increase skin irritations, and foster the spread of viral infections. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and rural populations with limited healthcare access, are especially at risk.
Dr Junaid Mustafa, a family physician at Asia Memorial Clinic, emphasized the heightened health risks during the dry season. “Children and the elderly are at increased risk of respiratory issues, dehydration, infectious diseases, skin conditions, and eye irritation,” he noted.
To mitigate these risks, he recommended maintaining hydration, improving air quality, ensuring proper nutrition, and enhancing sanitation practices. Regular health monitoring and community awareness are also crucial to minimizing health challenges.
Globally, the situation reflects a lack of fulfillment of climate finance pledges made to vulnerable countries. Despite commitments at forums like COP27, such as the $100 billion annual climate finance goal, many nations including Pakistan continue to face climate impacts with insufficient support.
Progress on initiatives like the Loss and Damage Fund has been slow, leaving vulnerable countries exposed to natural calamities with inadequate resources to adapt and recover.
As Pakistan navigates these complex challenges, the government’s efforts to address the immediate impacts of the dry spell, coupled with long-term climate resilience initiatives, will be critical.
However, achieving meaningful progress will require enhanced global cooperation, timely funding, and strengthened local actions to safeguard the nation’s public health, agriculture, and economy.
The feature story was released by APP.
All the information provided in this report is the sole responsibility of the reporter.
