Climate Crisis: The Unseen Cost of Survival in Pakistan

Pakistan is facing an unprecedented climate migration crisis, with millions of people displaced due to floods, droughts, and rising sea levels. The story of Ali Sher Koso, a 42-year-old farmer from Jacobabad, is a heart-wrenching example of the human cost of climate change. When the floodwaters reached his village in 2022, Koso and his family were forced to flee, leaving behind their ancestral home, crops, and livestock. The journey to their new home in Kotri, Jamshoro, was not an easy one. The family had to spend the night on a charpoy on top of a flood embankment, waiting for the water to recede. With no other option, they migrated to a new location, where Koso now earns a higher daily wage but struggles to make ends meet due to higher living costs. Climate change is having a devastating impact on Pakistan, with the country ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable nations in the world. The 2022 floods, which submerged nearly one-third of the country, affected over 33 million people and displaced millions from their homes. The disaster has left a lasting impact on the lives of people like Koso, who are struggling to come to terms with their new reality. Muhammad Jutt, a 24-year-old fisherman from Sindh's coast, is another victim of climate change. His family's livelihood was destroyed when the floodwaters destroyed their home and fishing gear. With no other option, they migrated to Keti Bandar, where Jutt struggles to find regular work and provide for his family. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has found that climate migration is becoming a recurring reality for many communities in Pakistan. The institute's survey of 826 climate-displaced households in Rahim Yar Khan found that average monthly household income after migration stood at just Rs16,545, while average expenditure exceeded Rs23,900, forcing many households into debt. The World Bank estimates that without stronger climate action and resilient development, more than 216 million people could become internal climate migrants by 2050. In Pakistan, IWMI researchers estimate that around 2 million people could be pushed into climate migrants by mid-century as floods, droughts, and other climate extremes intensify. The Pakistani government needs to take urgent action to address the climate migration crisis. This includes investing in climate-resilient agriculture, stronger embankments, functioning rural health facilities, and early warning systems. The government also needs to incorporate climate migration into national planning and strengthen social protection systems to support families like Koso's and Jutt's. The story of Pakistan's climate migration crisis is a stark reminder of the human cost of climate change. It is a crisis that requires immediate attention and action from the government, international organizations, and civil society. The time to act is now, before it's too late.