By Asfara Naveed

When the earth turns against its people, where do they go?

People move. Not voluntarily, but out of necessity. Millions of people in Pakistan are experiencing this reality as they are forced from their homes by droughts, floods, and rising temperatures. In Pakistan, the problem of climate migration is getting worse due to greater intensity and frequency of disasters. A third of the country was swamped by record-breaking floods in 2022, forcing almost 8 million people to relocate. Families were forced to start over in unfamiliar towns when entire villages disappeared under the waters. So, Climate mitigation in Pakistan is crucial to reduce the impacts of climate migration and protect vulnerable communities.

Deciphering the term “Climate Migration”

The term “climate migration” describes the movement of communities who leave behind their homes that are no longer suitable to support lives or means of livelihood. Two factors are driving this movement in Pakistan: slow shifts like drought and desertification, and sudden disasters like floods.

Monsoon rains put human resilience to the test every year. Families were forced to evacuate either permanently or temporarily as a result of the 2022 floods, which damaged 4.4 million acres of crops and nearly 2 million homes. In the meantime, rural groups in southern Sindh and Baluchistan are forced to leave their homelands in search of water and agricultural land due to frequent droughts.

The major cities of Lahore, Karachi, Multan, and Islamabad are the destinations of many migrants. But these urban centres are already overcrowded and some lack proper water, sanitation, and housing. Existing difficulties are simply made worse by the influx of thousands more. The majority of migrants live in unofficial communities with little access to clean water, healthcare, and education. Often, what begins as a short escape turns into a permanent relocation.

The Human and Social Toll of Climate Migration

Climate migration has a human cost that goes well beyond statistics. It alters cultures, communities, and economies. Families typically relocate without means of support or safety nets. Many displaced children are compelled to work as minors, and many are denied access to education. In camps for displaced people, women and girls are more likely to experience gender-based violence and be married young.

According to the World Bank knowledge portal, Pakistan would be among the most severely affected countries in South Asia. The number of people without a stable place to live, work, or belong is almost four times the population of Karachi.

Cities are also heavily challenged by migration. On riverbanks and floodplains, which are equally vulnerable to future calamities, unauthorized communities grow. Poor people in urban areas become caught in new risk cycles. Climate migration has the potential to exacerbate political instability, social inequality, and poverty if it is not planned for.

This is a human rights and development issue as well as an environmental one. The economy of Pakistan, which is already struggling with debt and inflation, is unable to withstand the long-term effects of unplanned migration. Internal displacement is an increasing issue that requires national attention.

Efforts Already Made

Although there has been some progress, Pakistan still has a long way to go. The displacement is recognized as a major concern in the National Climate Change Policy (2021), implementation is still slow and uneven. A specific legal framework for identifying and safeguarding climate migrants is still lacking.

The Efforts Needed

Here are the efforts that are needed to address the issue of climate migration in Pakistan:

• Create clear migration regulations. A national strategy that recognizes climate migrants, protects them, and incorporates them into sustainable urban development is required in Pakistan.
• Invest in infrastructure that is climate resilient. Reducing forced migration can be achieved by constructing flood-resistant homes, enhancing drainage, and guaranteeing access to clean water.
• Develop stronger early warning systems. Due to the lack of an efficient alarm system, many communities relocate after disasters.
• Develop livelihood initiatives. Rebuilding their lives sustainably can be facilitated by training displaced persons for new occupations like green agriculture, ecotourism, or solar energy.
• Work together on a regional level. Climate migration transcends national boundaries. Pakistan can create cross-border institutions for displaced populations in collaboration with its South Asian allies.
• Give women and children priority. Create shelters with areas that are beneficial to children and maternal care. Continue education by using scholarships and online schooling.
• Boost the capabilities of local government. Distribute money for urban planning and disaster relief. Provide local teams with information on climate threats and migration patterns.
• Sustain the resilience of agriculture. Implement community-led watershed management, water-efficient irrigation, and drought-tolerant crops. These steps lessen the need to leave.
• Arrange insurance and finance. Farmers and small companies can prevent catastrophic losses by obtaining climate risk insurance. Public-private partnerships have the potential to increase coverage.
• Utilize research and data when making plans. Keep checks on where and why individuals go. To predict migration locations, use satellite data and survey information. Targeted adaptation is made possible by this knowledge.

Civil Society Bridging Communities and Decision Makers

Civil society is essential. Local NGOs provide training, legal assistance, and quick reaction. Campaigns for awareness are run by foundations and youth organizations. They also act as a link between the public and decision-makers. For instance, during floods, community-led mapping assists in locating safe routes and places to camp. Similarly, livelihood centre provides a location of employment and education for displaced persons.

Policy-wise, displacement is now mentioned in Pakistan’s catastrophe and climate plans. The implementation gap, however, exists. Local, provincial, and federal authorities frequently do not coordinate well. Therefore, clear duties and guaranteed funding are needed.

Final Thoughts

In Pakistan, the problem of climate migration lies at the intersection of justice, resilience, and survival. Millions of people have already left because climatic disasters have taken away their right to stay, not because they chose to. This quiet catastrophe has the potential to change Pakistan’s economic and social landscape if nothing is done right away.

Rebuilding after disasters is only one aspect of addressing climate migration; another is becoming ready for them before they happen. Through data-driven planning, local empowerment, and progressive legislation, Pakistan may prevent its citizens from ending up as climate refugees within their own borders. Climate migration in Pakistan is an urgent demand for compassion and action, not a problem for tomorrow.

Asfara Naveed is a Website Content Writer at Progressive Climate Foundation (PCF).