Pakistan Underfunding Climate Fight, Warns Sherry
Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has strongly criticized reductions in climate-related funding, warning that Pakistan is facing escalating environmental threats, including severe heatwaves, accelerated glacier melt, erratic rainfall patterns, water scarcity and worsening urban pollution.
Speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Rehman described the cuts in the Climate Ministry’s budget as alarming and questioned the government’s priorities at a time when climate risks are intensifying.
The committee was informed that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has been allocated Rs2.478 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), down from previous allocations. Senator Rehman noted that the ministry’s PSDP funding had already declined from Rs3.5 billion to Rs2.7 billion in the previous fiscal year.
“Climate risks are increasing, but resources to address them are shrinking,” she said, warning that Pakistan cannot effectively respond to a growing climate crisis with reduced funding.
At the same time, Senator Rehman pointed out that the ministry had failed to fully utilize funds allocated in previous years, stressing that underutilization of available resources is also a matter of serious concern.
The committee also discussed the role of the newly established Climate Authority. Senator Rehman questioned the need for a separate authority when the Climate Ministry already exists, arguing that climate governance requires stronger coordination rather than additional bureaucratic structures.
She linked the issue to broader concerns over public spending, noting that losses of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have reached Rs832.848 billion, while cumulative losses stand at Rs6.563 trillion. Despite these losses, the government has allocated Rs451 billion to SOEs in the current budget.
“It is troubling that climate funding is being reduced while substantial resources continue to be directed toward loss-making entities,” she remarked.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Rehman, focused primarily on Pakistan’s climate preparedness and monsoon planning. She directed that preparations for the upcoming monsoon season remain a top priority due to increasing weather-related risks.
Briefing the committee, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Inam Haider Malik warned that climate instability and extreme weather events are expected to intensify. He said temperatures across Pakistan are already above normal levels and climate thresholds previously expected in later years are being reached sooner than anticipated.
Responding to questions regarding rainfall patterns, NDMA officials said precipitation is becoming increasingly unpredictable. While some regions may experience below-average rainfall, others could face short-duration but intense rain events, increasing the risk of both droughts and flash floods.
The committee was informed that glacier melt has increased by approximately 3.5 percent, while evaporation rates have risen by nearly 3 percent. NDMA officials warned that glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) could become more frequent in northern areas of the country.
Raising concerns over long-term water security, Senator Rehman questioned how Pakistan’s reservoirs and dams would be sustained if glaciers continue shrinking at the current rate.
NDMA recommended large-scale rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge systems and the development of monsoon basins to improve water storage capacity and mitigate future shortages.
The committee was also informed that a national drought action plan has been prepared following consultations with relevant stakeholders. Senator Rehman directed the ministry to present the plan before the committee for review.
She further expressed concern over regional water security and reports of new Indian infrastructure projects that could affect water flows, emphasizing that the lack of data-sharing mechanisms is becoming an increasingly serious issue.
Officials warned that drought, extreme heat and irregular weather patterns could reduce agricultural productivity by 11 to 12 percent in affected regions while also creating significant public health challenges.
Concluding the discussion, Senator Rehman stressed that Pakistan’s climate crisis extends beyond extreme weather events and includes poor waste management, sewage pollution, weak urban planning and deforestation.
She called for stronger climate budgeting, improved utilization of available funds, clearer institutional responsibilities and urgent preparations to address floods, droughts, heatwaves and water shortages.
“Without serious planning and adequate funding, climate-related challenges will become increasingly difficult for ordinary Pakistanis to endure,” she warned.
