The climate cost of urban misplanning

“The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. Whatever he does to the web of life, he does to himself." – Chief Seattle (Native American leader).

These words, spoken more than a century ago, hold a stark warning for Pakistan today. As cities expand and concrete replaces forests, the country is witnessing the devastating consequences of reckless urban planning. Natural waterways are being encroached upon, floodplains are being paved over, and hill torrents, once controlled by dense forests, now wreak havoc on settlements. Urban mismanagement is not only worsening climate-related disasters but also making life in Pakistan’s major cities increasingly unsustainable.

Once pristine rivers and streams, which were sources of life for both humans and wildlife, have now been reduced to open sewers, choked with garbage and industrial effluents. The Soan and Korang rivers, which once provided clean water and supported aquatic life, are now symbols of neglect and pollution. Private housing schemes, lacking proper waste disposal systems, have turned these waterways into dumping grounds for untreated sewage, plastic waste and construction debris.

During dry periods, these rivers reek of stench, and their banks are littered with heaps of trash, making them breeding grounds for disease and destroying the ecosystems that once thrived within them. The fish that once swam freely in these waters have vanished, and birds that relied on these rivers for food and nesting have been driven away. The loss of biodiversity is a stark reminder that urban mismanagement is not just an infrastructural failure but an ecological catastrophe.

The same story of destruction is unfolding in the Margalla Hills National Park, once a sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna. Illegal encroachments by developers are eating away at the park’s edges, shrinking the habitat of leopards, barking deer, pangolins and countless bird species. As construction spreads into protected areas, the delicate balance of the ecosystem is being shattered. Natural corridors that once allowed wildlife to migrate safely are being severed by roads and housing projects, leading to increased human-wildlife conflicts. The park, which was once a jewel of Islamabad’s natural landscape, is now under siege from unchecked urban expansion.

Deforestation is not limited to encroachments alone. Even within cities, poor planning is replacing native trees with species that offer little environmental benefit. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, local authorities and private developers have taken to planting palm trees for ‘beautification’—a -- misguided attempt at landscaping that ignores the ecological needs of the region.

Palm trees, which are non-native to Pakistan’s climate, provide minimal shade, contribute little to air purification and require excessive water to survive. Meanwhile, indigenous species such as Jacaranda, Sheesham and Keeker trees, which have long supported local birdlife and improved air quality, are being chopped down at an alarming rate. This short-sighted urban design not only diminishes biodiversity but also worsens the urban heat island effect, making cities even more unbearable during heatwaves.

Heatwaves have become an annual nightmare for Pakistani cities, particularly in areas where green cover has been sacrificed for concrete expansion. The absence of trees, combined with excessive construction, has turned cities into heat traps, where temperatures soar far beyond natural levels. Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad have all recorded extreme temperatures in recent years, leading to rising mortality rates among vulnerable populations. Trees that once provided natural cooling are vanishing, leaving roads and buildings to absorb and radiate heat. The increasing intensity of heatwaves is not just a symptom of climate change but also a consequence of reckless urbanisation that prioritises commercial development over human survival.

The economic cost of urban misplanning in Pakistan is staggering. The 2022 floods which were exacerbated by urban misplanning and affected many urban areas throughout the country, alone caused an estimated $40 billion in damages, exacerbated by encroachments on floodplains and poor drainage systems. Climate-related disasters are expected to cost Pakistan an average of $3.8 billion annually as per the World Bank report, a figure expected to rise if urban expansion continues unchecked. The financial burden of these disasters is diverting resources away from crucial development needs, further pushing the country into economic instability.

Despite its high vulnerability, Pakistan is not receiving enough climate finance to compensate for its growing climate risks. According to global climate finance flows, Pakistan has received only around $4 billion to $5 billion in climate-related funding over the past decade, while its estimated needs for climate adaptation and mitigation exceed $100 billion by 2030.

International donors and climate finance institutions are increasingly linking funding to effective national adaptation strategies. If Pakistan continues its pattern of urban mismanagement, floodplain encroachments and deforestation, it risks losing out on critical funding meant for climate resilience. The global community is unlikely to invest in adaptation projects for a country that fails to implement basic urban planning reforms.

Flooding, pollution, heatwaves, and environmental degradation are not accidental but the result of deliberate policy failures and institutional negligence. Laws meant to prevent such destruction, including the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) of 1997 and the National Climate Change Act 2017, exist on paper but are rarely enforced. Section 12 of PEPA requires Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before approving any new project, yet many developments proceed without proper evaluations and do not even engage the public for consultations which is a prerequisite for getting an EIA approved. Mostly political and commercial interests often override environmental concerns, allowing ecologically destructive projects to move forward unchecked.

Similarly, the Punjab Irrigation, Drainage and Rivers Act of 2023 mandates floodplain zoning and states that no construction can take place within designated floodplains without the approval of a canal officer. In theory, this law could have protected urban areas from the devastation of encroaching developments. However, the failure to appoint canal officers in many cities has rendered the law ineffective. Without enforcement, housing projects continue to rise on riverbanks and natural drainage systems are being permanently blocked in many cities of Punjab. This negligence ensures that every monsoon season brings another wave of predictable, yet preventable, urban flooding.

The right to a clean and healthy environment is no longer just an ethical or policy concern -- it is now a constitutional mandate. Article 9A of the constitution of Pakistan recognises the right to a clean environment as a fundamental human right, emphasising the state's responsibility to protect its natural resources. Yet, the systematic destruction of forests, waterways and urban green spaces reflects a blatant disregard for this constitutional provision. Every tree cut, every river polluted, and every floodplain encroached upon is a violation of this fundamental right.

Addressing these challenges requires urgent and decisive action. The enforcement of Section 12 of PEPA must be prioritised, with independent environmental watchdogs ensuring that EIAs are conducted transparently and rigorously. The Punjab Irrigation, Drainage and Rivers Act must be implemented with full force, with designated canal officers appointed in all cities to monitor and prevent floodplain encroachments.

Massive reforestation efforts must be undertaken in urban areas to combat heatwaves and restore ecological balance. Native trees, rather than decorative imports like palm trees, should be prioritised to enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate extremes. Furthermore, national adaptation planning must be implemented at the provincial and city levels to ensure that urban resilience is mainstreamed into all future development.

Pakistan’s urban expansion, if left unchecked, is a ticking time bomb. Every monsoon season and every record-breaking heatwave serve as grim reminders of how mismanaged cities are becoming uninhabitable. The country is already one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world, yet its development patterns are making matters worse. Unless strong action is taken to enforce environmental laws, restore natural ecosystems and integrate sustainability into urban planning, Pakistan’s cities will continue to drown in their own mismanagement and burn under their own short-sightedness.

The earth, as Chief Seattle warned, is not an endless resource to be exploited. The destruction of rivers, forests and natural drainage systems is not just an attack on the environment but one on the very foundation of human survival. If Pakistan fails to change course, it will not be nature that suffers the most, but the people who rely on it for their future.

The writer is an environmental lawyer and advocate of the high court of Pakistan. He can be reached at: hassaantariqadv@gmail.com