GLOBAL warming is the greatest challenge to the world in the 21st century. It is alarming that Pakistan is also on the list of endangered nations as the 7th most vulnerable country affected by climate change.

The effects of climate change and global warming on Pakistan include the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, threatening the volumetric flow rate of many of the most important rivers of Pakistan. The adverse effects of these changes are projected to impact millions of lives.

Climate change poses a serious threat to the living standards of the people living in Sindh, particularly Hyderabad district which has emerged as the top hot spot, followed by Mirpurkhas and Sukkur districts.

The second most vulnerable area is densely populated Punjab with a population of 110 million people. Some of Punjab’s most densely populated cities like Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad are among the top 10 hot spot districts which will be severely affected by climate change.

It is therefore time that the government started taking protective measures to meet this threat.

Rufi Naz
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2020