The late monsoon, coinciding with glacier meltwater, is wreaking havoc in a region already known as one of the most climate-vulnerable in the world—and the predictions are proving true. Pakistan’s carbon emissions are relatively very low, limiting its mitigation capacity; however, the urgent need to adapt and build resilience cannot be ignored.

Time is running out as losses mount. Much like a macroeconomic boom-bust cycle, the country is trapped in a relentless loop of climate-related disasters, with their frequency steadily increasing. Yet, we have not broken free.

The key lies in adapting to—and respecting—the Mother Nature. Unfortunately, authorities often do the opposite. A major issue is the real estate mafia, which seizes wetlands and vacant land to develop housing schemes without proper flood safety measures.

Examples abound in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, where developers—often politicians, industrialists, or even more powerful groups—have built on vulnerable lands along the Ravi River, Karachi’s freshwater lakes, or Islamabad’s Swan River. Similar stories echo across smaller cities........

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