ISLAMABAD: Former climate change minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President, Senator Sherry Rehman, has strongly criticized the federal government’s decision to cut the environment protection budget in the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, calling it an abdication of responsibility in the face of escalating climate challenges.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, she noted the slashing of funds for climate action, including a reduction in pollution abatement initiatives, which now stand at Rs3.1 billion, down from Rs7.2 billion.
Rehman expressed concern over the government’s failure to align its budget with the pressing needs of Pakistan’s climate crisis, despite the country facing increasingly extreme weather events. She pointed out that, although the budget earmarks significant funds for climate-resilient development, the lack of clear policy direction and contradictions in climate action plans undermine effective use of these funds.
She warned that without adequate internal funding, Pakistan would be forced to rely more heavily on international aid, which has already seen cuts in climate finance globally.
The PPP leader also highlighted the grave situation in the country, citing the extreme heat wave gripping Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh, where temperatures have soared to 49°C.
Rehman emphasized that Pakistan’s climate vulnerability is becoming more severe by the year, with cities like Jacobabad in Sindh reaching temperatures of 50°C last year. “Pakistan is quickly becoming one of the hottest places on the planet,” she stated. “This is not just a national issue; it is a global crisis.”
Her concerns were further echoed by the latest Climate Risk Index (CRI) report by Germanwatch, which ranked Pakistan as the most vulnerable country to climate change, primarily due to the unprecedented floods of 2022.
The CRI revealed that over 33 million people were affected by the floods, with over 1,700 fatalities. The report also highlighted that climate change had intensified the severity of monsoon rainfall by 50%, exacerbating the disaster’s scale.
Rehman pointed out that the government’s budget cuts in critical sectors such as environment protection go against the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and resilience measures.
The Minister for Climate Change further lamented that such reductions will undermine Pakistan’s ability to respond effectively to the growing threat of climate change, noting that while other nations are ramping up their climate adaptation strategies, Pakistan is scaling back its own.
In March, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a drought warning for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab due to inadequate rainfall, which has only intensified fears of prolonged climate stress in the coming years. The combination of increased temperatures, droughts, and flooding makes the need for stronger, more consistent climate policies all the more urgent.
Rehman concluded by stressing that the government must reassess its climate priorities and redirect resources toward a comprehensive national climate strategy.
“The people of Pakistan cannot afford to wait any longer for meaningful climate action,” she said, urging the government to ensure that the environment protection budget is restored and adequately funded to address the country’s pressing environmental challenges.
This call comes as Pakistan continues to suffer the consequences of climate change while facing financial constraints that limit the scope of action on the ground.
