Wetlands Take Center Stage in Pakistan’s Climate Planning

Abdul Samad Tariq 

Peshawar: As Pakistan reels from intensifying climate shocks — catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts and deepening water scarcity — one of its strongest defenses remains largely invisible and undervalued: wetlands.

Often dismissed as wastelands, Pakistan’s wetlands are in fact among the country’s most powerful natural climate protectors.

Ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026, observed globally on February 2, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) has renewed its call to recognise wetlands as critical national infrastructure essential for survival in a warming world.

Pakistan is home to more than 240 significant wetlands, covering nearly 10 percent of the country’s land area, including 19 Ramsar-listed sites of international importance. Spread across freshwater lakes in Sindh, coastal marshes of Balochistan and the riverine floodplains of Punjab, these ecosystems quietly perform life-saving services.

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“Nature and climate are two sides of the same coin,” said Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, Media Spokesperson and Climate Policy Advocacy Specialist at the ministry. “Healthy wetlands regulate water flows, reduce flood risks and support livelihoods. Protecting wetlands ultimately means protecting people and the economy.”

Nature’s shock absorbers

During extreme rainfall, wetlands act like giant natural sponges, absorbing and slowing floodwaters, reducing pressure on downstream cities and villages. In dry seasons, they store water and recharge underground aquifers — a function that has become increasingly critical as Pakistan faces shrinking river flows and prolonged droughts.

Yet despite their importance, wetlands remain among the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Globally, they are disappearing three times faster than forests, with nearly 35 percent lost since 1970, according to international conservation assessments.

Pakistan’s wetlands face mounting pressure from untreated wastewater, agricultural runoff, encroachments, unregulated urban expansion and accelerating climate impacts.

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“What is worrying is that wetlands are still widely perceived as unused or expendable land,” Shaikh warned. “This outdated mindset is dangerous and undermines our climate resilience.”

Havens for biodiversity and livelihoods

Despite covering only a small fraction of the Earth’s surface, wetlands support nearly 40 percent of all plant and animal species worldwide. In Pakistan, Ramsar-listed sites such as Keenjhar, Haleji, Chashma Barrage and the Jiwani coastal wetlands serve as vital breeding and feeding grounds for migratory birds travelling along the Central Asian Flyway, including flamingos, cranes and endangered waterfowl.

Beyond biodiversity, wetlands underpin fisheries, agriculture and eco-tourism, sustaining millions of livelihoods across the country.

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This year’s World Wetlands Day theme — “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage” — highlights the role of indigenous and local communities who have sustainably managed wetlands for generations through seasonal fishing practices, grazing norms and water-sharing systems rooted in observation and stewardship.

“Blending scientific research with traditional knowledge leads to more inclusive and lasting conservation outcomes,” Shaikh said.

Communities across the Indus Basin, coastal Sindh and Balochistan have long relied on wetlands not only for income, but also for cultural identity — knowledge now increasingly recognised as vital for climate adaptation.

From conservation to climate strategy

The Ministry of Climate Change says wetlands are being increasingly integrated into Pakistan’s climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies.

Conservation and restoration efforts are aligned with national initiatives such as the National Climate Change Policy, National Adaptation Plan, Living Indus Initiative and Recharge Pakistan Programme, as well as international commitments under the Ramsar Convention.

Key actions include wetland mapping, legal protection of Ramsar sites, pollution control, improved water governance, removal of encroachments and incorporating wetlands into flood management planning.

Civil society organisations are also playing a role. WWF-Pakistan, through projects such as Recharge Pakistan and Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP), is piloting wetland restoration and floodplain reconnection in climate-vulnerable regions to reduce disaster risks while supporting local livelihoods.

A call to act

As climate extremes intensify, the ministry has urged lawmakers, planners and citizens to place wetlands at the heart of development decisions.

“Investing in wetlands is one of Pakistan’s smartest climate choices,” Shaikh said. “They lower flood damage, improve groundwater levels, stem biodiversity loss and enhance human wellbeing. Parliament must champion wetlands, and communities must be empowered as their custodians.”

World Wetlands Day commemorates the signing of the Wetlands Convention in 1971 — a reminder that safeguarding these ecosystems is not just about conservation, but about securing a climate-resilient future for Pakistan.