Pakistan is currently in the grip of an invisible and dreadful crisis that is hollowing out its social, economic and geographical structure from within. The alarm bells sounded by multiple climate research institutes are no longer just a warning, but a bitter reality. Heavy rains, floods, droughts, heatwaves and other climatic hazards in different parts of the country, especially in Punjab, are forcing millions of people to migrate from their native areas. This is not merely the migration of a population from one place to another, but a train of human tragedies, economic devastation and social instability moving towards urban centres.

The horrific consequences of the unprecedented floods of recent years still persist. Over 523,000 people have fled just six districts in South Punjab for nearby cities, leaving behind their destroyed homes, submerged crops and dying livestock. South Punjab, which was once prominent as the agricultural hub and food basket of the province, has today become the frontline victim of climate change. When more than half a million people suddenly lose their homes and livelihoods, and are forced to migrate to cities, it is not just a number; it is, in fact, the story of over half a million shattered dreams, sobbing lives and denied human rights.

This story is being repeated every year. The negative effects of this sudden and large-scale migration are being compounded in a terrible way on the economy of a developing country. Pakistan is an agricultural country, and its economy is largely dependent on the rural workforce. When farmers,........

© The Nation