KARACHI: Pakistan is facing one of the most intense heatwaves in its history, with temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms and raising alarms about the country’s environmental and water security.
Prof Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, a renowned expert in sustainable development, has warned that while the current heatwave captures headlines, the deeper environmental crises it signals are being dangerously ignored.
“This is not merely an extreme weather event,” said Dr Kumbhar. “It is a stark warning of the accelerating climate emergency that directly threatens our food systems, water supply and energy security.”
He pointed out that global academic institutions like Imperial College London and the University of Hawaii are actively studying the effects of climate change in Pakistan. However, within the country, research institutions, policymakers, and the media remain largely disengaged from the gravity of the situation. “We are in a crisis, yet national attention remains superficial,” he said.
Dr Kumbhar highlighted a critical issue rarely addressed in public discourse: the rapid depletion of groundwater. In Islamabad, for instance, groundwater levels that were once accessible at 70 feet now lie beyond 400 feet. “If this trend continues, even water tanker services will collapse under the strain. The silence on this matter is deeply troubling,” he noted.
He also warned of the compounding effects of climate change -- frequent glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), extensive deforestation, rising sea levels threatening major cities like Karachi, and drying rivers. “Pakistan is standing on the edge of an ecological breakdown. Without urgent intervention, the damage may be irreversible,” Dr Kumbhar cautioned.
Historically, Pakistan has suffered from deadly heatwaves, but their frequency and severity have sharply increased in recent years. In 2015, a heatwave claimed over 1,200 lives in Karachi alone, exposing the lack of preparedness and resilience in urban infrastructure. Subsequent years have seen repeated temperature spikes, with many regions recording highs above 50 degrees C. This year, vast stretches of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan have been placed under red alerts by meteorological authorities.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified South Asia, including Pakistan, as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Factors such as rapid urbanisation, deforestation, poor water management and limited public awareness exacerbate the impacts of global warming in the country.
Dr Kumbhar called for a nationwide climate resilience strategy that places environmental sustainability and water governance at the heart of all development plans. “Universities, think tanks, civil society and political leaders must collaborate on urgent climate action. Without this, we are endangering not only our present but the very survival of future generations,” he stressed.
As Pakistan braces for further climate shocks in the months ahead, experts agree that this heatwave must serve as more than a temporary alarm. It is a call for systemic change.