Climate change is no longer some distant threat to Pakistan; it is an everyday reality. Every summer, as the monsoon clouds gather, families living across the valleys and plains of Pakistan hold their breath: will the rain bring crops to life or bring death and homelessness? In August 2025, north Pakistan, particularly for people in Buner, Swat, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), experienced the terrifying answer to this question. A succession of downpours and rapid cloud bursts unleashed flash floods that took out homes, roads, and lives in a matter of minutes.
This disaster was not an isolated one, but part of the pattern. Pakistan, which emits less than 1% of the world’s greenhouse gases, is paying one of the highest costs of a warming world. If we are to comprehend climate change from the perspective of Pakistan, we need to view this not only through science reports, but also through the human faces that lay behind these statistics.
The Northern Floods of 2025
When the sky opened up
On August 17, 2025, a rare cloudburst in Buner district brought over 150 mm of rain in just an hour. Villages nestled in valleys were suddenly engulfed by torrents of mud, rocks, and water. Families who had gathered for weddings were digging graves instead. Survivors described how a night of joy turned into a morning of mourning, as entire homes vanished before their eyes.
By the end of that week, hundreds had lost their lives, with many still missing. Roads and bridges collapsed, cutting off communities from help. In Gilgit-Baltistan, a glacier burst triggered a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), destroying more than a hundred houses and leaving thousands stranded. Each story that emerged carried the same haunting message: nature is changing faster than people can adapt.
Echoes of the past
For many Pakistanis, these floods brought back memories of the catastrophic 2022 floods, which submerged one-third of the country, killed over 1,700 people, and caused damages exceeding $30 billion. Recovery from that disaster is still incomplete. The 2025 floods show that climate shocks are no longer once-in-a-generation events—they are becoming an annual ordeal.
Human Impacts: Beyond Numbers
It is easy to speak of “507 deaths” or “1,800 houses damaged”, but behind each figure is a human tragedy.
- A mother in Swat is searching for her missing children after the roof collapsed.
- A farmer in GB watching his apple orchard—the only source of livelihood—was buried under landslide debris.
- Families in relief camps, huddled in cold classrooms-turned-shelters, are uncertain of when or if they can rebuild.
These are not statistics; they are stories of pain, resilience, and survival. The trauma of losing loved ones or standing helplessly as homes vanish in seconds will linger long after the waters dry.
Why Is Pakistan So Vulnerable?
A fragile geography
Pakistan’s north is mountainous, carved by rivers and glaciers. Its valleys are beautiful but fragile. When rain falls with unnatural intensity, there is little flat land to absorb it—streams swell into torrents within minutes. Downstream, the Indus Basin carries these waters to the plains, where millions depend on it for farming. A single disruption in this system has cascading effects nationwide.
The climate signal
Scientists have long warned that a warming atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to shorter, sharper downpours. Pakistan is now seeing these predictions unfold: rare cloudbursts, more frequent glacial lake outbursts, and erratic monsoons. These are no longer “natural disasters”—they are climate disasters.
Impacts on Life and Economy
Homes and livelihoods were washed away
In northern districts, many families build houses close to riverbanks or streams, because flat land is scarce. These homes are the first to be swept away. Farmers lose not just shelter but also their fields, livestock, and tools. For a family living hand-to-mouth, such a loss pushes them from poverty into desperation overnight.
Roads and bridges
When a bridge collapses in a mountain valley, it cuts off entire communities from health care, markets, and relief. The Karakoram Highway, Pakistan’s northern lifeline, has been blocked multiple times this season. A broken road here is not just an inconvenience—it can mean a pregnant woman cannot reach a hospital, or food supplies cannot reach an isolated village.
Health risks
After the floods, standing water becomes a breeding ground for dengue and malaria. Contaminated water spreads cholera and diarrhea. Hospitals, already under strain, struggle to cope with both direct injuries and secondary outbreaks. Children and the elderly suffer most.
Urban Flooding: A Parallel Crisis
While mountain valleys drowned, cities like Karachi and Lahore were also hit by intense rainfall. Karachi saw streets turn into rivers, with power outages and neighborhoods marooned. Urban flooding is worsened by blocked drains, unchecked construction on waterways, and a lack of planning. Climate change has exposed these weaknesses, reminding us that resilience is not just needed in the mountains but also in our cities.
A Question of Climate Justice
Pakistan is among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, yet it produces only a fraction of the emissions driving this crisis. This is the essence of climate injustice: those least responsible are suffering the most. After the 2022 floods, donors pledged billions for Pakistan’s recovery, but much of that money has been slow to arrive. Without global solidarity and timely financial support, Pakistan cannot face this challenge alone.
What Must Be Done?
Strengthening early warnings
In Buner, survivors said they had no idea such a cloudburst was coming. Local warning systems—community sirens, mosque loudspeakers, text alerts—can save lives even when forecasts are uncertain. Every valley should have a basic protocol: when rain crosses a threshold, people move to higher ground.
Building resilient infrastructure
Bridges and homes must be built to withstand heavier floods. Schools and clinics should be designed as safe shelters. In mountain areas, even small investments like gabion walls, slope stabilization, and reinforced housing can make the difference between survival and loss.
Social protection for the vulnerable
Cash transfers, food aid, and livestock replacement must reach affected families quickly. Disasters often push the poorest deeper into debt; social safety nets are essential to break this cycle.
Investing in nature
Restoring forests, replanting slopes, and protecting wetlands can slow down floods and reduce landslides. Nature-based solutions are cheaper and more sustainable than concrete alone.
Conclusion
The floods of 2025 are a warning, but also a call to action. Pakistan cannot stop the rain, but it can reduce the devastation it causes. Stronger early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, climate-smart farming, and fair international support are no longer optional—they are essential for survival.
Above all, we must remember that behind every number is a human being. Climate change in Pakistan is not about abstract models or distant futures. It is about a farmer losing his land today, a mother losing her children today, a nation losing its future if the world does not act together.
The monsoon will come again next year. The only question is: will we be better prepared?
