e have been taught to repair and reuse everything. Communal base living has been the norm in our part of the world. It has translated into efficient resource management and waste management. Moreover, our architecture has forever relied on locally sourced renewable materials like wood, bamboo and mud. These are just a few of a plethora of examples that advocate our strong inclination towards sustainable customs.

However, our sustainable traditions are being challenged by growing urbanisation and modernisation.

While modernisation and urbanisation have presented new challenges to sustainability in South Asia, there is still a sense of pride about these traditional sustainable practices. Today, there is a growing movement to integrate these sustainable principles into contemporary lifestyles and address the environmental challenges facing the region. Many South Asians take pride in preserving their cultural heritage while adopting modern practices that align with sustainability and environmental conservation.

Addressing the challenges of becoming less sustainable in South Asian lifestyles requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, investing in renewable energy resources, improving waste management systems, enhancing public transportation and implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Education, awareness-raising and collective action by individuals, communities and policymakers are essential to transition towards more sustainable lifestyles in this region.

Regardless of our practices, Pakistan has unfortunately faced the brunt of climate change. It’s a growing concern for us citizens due to the escalating impacts and risks it poses, not only to the environment but consequently the society as well as the economy. The worst part is perhaps the fact that it is only deteriorating by the year and showing no signs of reversal or improvement.

Climate change is a growing concern for us citizens due to the escalating impacts and risks it poses, not only to the environment but consequently the society as well as the economy. The worst part is perhaps the fact that it is only deteriorating by the year and showing no signs of reversal or improvement.

Floods, heatwaves, droughts and ‘smog’ are calamities that we unfortunately have accepted as the norm and expect them to happen every year. The most unfortunate part is that we have made no efforts to prevent these not even figured out ways to cope with these.

Ironically, we are facing an additional curse of water scarcity. With changes in patterns of precipitation, and the glaciers of the Himalayas melting at an accelerating speed, we do not have a reliable availability of water which thus affects hydropower generation, water supply and agriculture.

Agriculture, being the backbone of the economy, has been impacted greatly. As it is one of the main sources of income for millions of people, climate change can have catastrophic effects on their livelihoods. The prolonged droughts, extreme temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns have all impacted the agricultural sector. The livestock and crop yields have suffered as a result, raising the risk of food insecurity, which can have devastating effects in a country of over 220 million people.

The factors highlight the urgency for Pakistan to address the causes of climate change. We need to develop effective strategies for adaptation and mitigation. The country’s extreme vulnerability to this crisis underscores the need for international cooperation. We need to protect our communities, promote sustainable practices and build further resilience.

Perhaps, it is time to go back to the basics.

The writer is a communications manager at a private company. She can be reached at saniyanasir3@gmail.com