Pakistan ranks as the most vulnerable country to Climate change according to the Climate Risk Index for 2025 

The finance minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Aurangzeb, during IMF/World Bank Autumn meetings in Washington, formally requested one billion dollars from the IMF Climate change fund, funding available through its RST (Resilience and Sustainable Trust), which was created in 2022. The facility provides long-term concessional funds for climate change adaptation and transition toward cleaner energy.

In the latest development, The IMF delegation’s visit to Pakistan is scheduled for the last week of February to further forward the talks on the IMF climate change fund. Pakistan ranks as the most vulnerable country to Climate change according to the Climate Risk Index for 2025 report. The Policy and Strategy Committee estimated the total economic loss to Pakistan in the 2022 flood was $30 billion.

It shares a border with Xinjiang province of China in the north, KP in the west and south, and Indian-administered Ladakh and Kashmir in the East

Gilgit-Baltistan lies in the north of Pakistan, nestling the world’s spectacular valleys, rich culture and home to the most hospitable people. It covers an area of 72,496 sq. km, with an estimated more than 2 million population. It shares a border with Xinjiang province of China in the north, KP in the west and south, and Indian-administered Ladakh and Kashmir in the East.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s physical landscape features rugged and challenging terrain; the region nestles the World’s greatest mountain ranges, i.e. Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas. It consists of the world’s largest glaciers outside the polar, with more than 7000 glaciers covering a total area of 13,214 sq. km. in the region, according to UNDP. These glaciers contribute to 70 % of the water of the Indus River, which supports Pakistan’s economic backbone ‘agriculture’.

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has been internally experiencing extreme weather events and glaciers are melting, causing glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF). Gilgit Baltistan is an under-resourced region in terms of government facilities. The region has been in the dark ages due to a severe power crisis due to extreme weather of the region impacting water flow, and the region’s power generation relies on hydropower plants.

Alone in 2022, GB witnessed 106 flash foods, which damaged 510 homes, 50 bridges, and 22 powerhouses, according to a statement by the director general of Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA). The data becomes more concerning and creates greater discomfort among locals as the statement by the Chief Engineer of GB power department unveiled that the region’s total power generation capacity is 122 MW, while demand exceeds 250 MW in the summer.

Power infrastructure runs the local economy, including tourism, local businesses, health centres, educational institutes, and household activities

The region falls severely short in the generation of power; the situation gets more alarming as all of the power stations throughout GB are established parallel to Nullah downstream water, which outflows from glacier-fed lakes in high mountains. Power infrastructure runs the local economy, including tourism, local businesses, health centers, educational institutes, and household activities.

The energy-deficient GB lacks access to gas or any other energy sources to support domestic needs, this pushes the locals to cut forests and rely on wood and wastes to face harsh winters. The uncontrolled deforestation leads to falling short of forest area as only less than 3.5% of GB’s total area is forest area rest is barren, waste, or irrigable land.

The GB government lacks an understanding of the conditions and does not make wise decisions and has no concern or attention towards the ecosystem

The reliance on diesel generators for power supply during winter hit hard the region’s ecosystem as well as the region’s budget. The GB government lacks an understanding of the conditions and does not make wise decisions and has no concern or attention towards the ecosystem. It solely chants slogans for the need for diesel generators to the federal government to gain a political score and win short-term public consent.

The results are high for GB in terms of climate change and environmental degradation, with an increase in air pollution index and waste. GB’s annual budget for the year 2024-25 is PKR 1.4 trillion, out of which more than 80% of the budget is allocated for the non-development budget and less than 20 % for the development budget, which hinders the region’s pace toward climate resilience and adaptation.

GB has no roadmap and planning to handle and overcome the unusual crisis in the wake of climate hazards as out of 3,044 glacier lakes in the region, 33 glacier lakes are considered more prone to glacier lake outburst flood, according to a report by UNDP. The data indicates the high vulnerability of the region’s crucial infrastructures, including homes, schools, hospitals, and agriculture.

The climate adaptations and mitigation efforts require significant climate finance for the region

Flood-resistant infrastructures in flood zone areas are inevitable, and the lack of barriers to floods damages people’s belongings and lives. The region’s important connectivity roads, like the Karakoram Highway and Juglot-Skardu roads, are frequently closed and prone to natural disasters like floods and land sliding. Climate change-associated signs like health and water crises need to be addressed in a timely manner.

All these factors increase the socio-economic vulnerability of the region. It is the right time to put efforts into the transition to clean energy sources and install more hydropower stations and solar energy plants. The region’s actual capacity for generating eco-friendly power is more than 40,000 MW, according to the data revealed in the Third interim report of the Senate Special Committee on CPEC.

The region hosts the largest glaciers outside the polar region, with more than 7000 glaciers, climate change impacts these fragile glacier bodies, making life in mountains nearly impossible and posing survival risks for the inhabitants. The climate adaptations and mitigation efforts require significant climate finance for the region. The region desperately looks toward the federal government for funding and budget.

In the wake of the latest news and developments related to climate change funds, as requested by Pakistan to the World Bank, the region’s voice toward resilience and a sustainable future must be considered and given due share transparently, and the federal government must strictly oversee the use of these climate change funds being allocated to the region. Transparency and merit must be strongly upheld through a proper mechanism and agreed terms between the government of GB and the federal government in utilizing the funds on the ground.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.