As 2024 draws to a close, Pakistan finds itself at the edge of a climate crisis buckling under the weight of the overwhelming impacts of an environment that is changing far too fast.

From blinding heatwaves that left the country scorched to devastating floods that submerged communities, this has been a year of extreme weather events that have reshaped the very fabric of life across the nation.

Besides the catastrophic floods and droughts, levels of smog historically unprecedented shrouded cities, strangling clean air and making the health crisis even graver.

Timeline of major climate events in Pakistan – 2024

January-March 2024

Pakistan’s northern and southern provinces started the year with rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. The country’s agricultural heartlands, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, began to feel the strain of water shortages.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported a significant drop in rainfall during the winter months, leading to below-average crop yields.

Impact on Small Farmers Small farmers in Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan faced severe shortages of water. It immensely affected the wheat crop planted in those areas. The wheat productivity declined by 15 per cent, the FAO mentioned.

Pakistan pins big hopes on small dams to beat drought

The Indus River basin began to feel the water flow reduce by March, and the drought that had been underway was exacerbated. The main reservoirs of Mangla and Tarbela had low water levels, which led to fears of a prolonged shortage of water.

April-May 2024: Record-breaking heatwaves

Summer had been looming, and the country was sizzling under some of the highest temperatures ever witnessed. Temps crossed 45 degrees Celsius (113 Farenheit) in several city and rural areas during late April. Even Lahore, Karachi and Multan witnessed their hottest days in decades.

With the worsening of the urban heat island effect, millions of people were suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration. Most hospitals in major cities began to see a large increase in patients who suffered from heatstroke.

Unprecedented heatwave 'may kill thousands' in India, Pakistan - World - DAWN.COM

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a score of people died from heat-related illnesses between April and May.

The heatwave damaged crop yields significantly. Most severely, the crops affected were wheat and cotton. Due to temperatures being extremely high, crop failure in Punjab and Sindh was reported. As a result, the production of cotton fell by 20%.

June-July 2024: Catastrophic floods

The monsoon season started early in June 2024; however, the heavy rain and flooding were worse than expected. In general, flood situations are concentrated in southern provinces, but this time the devastative rainfall was also visible in northern and central parts of the country.

Southern Pakistan: Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Punjab were severely flooded due to overflows from the Indus River. So far, by July, more than 200,000 acres of cropland have been flooded and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

Climate-Induced Floods in Balochistan and Concerned Authorities - Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research

Flash Floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Heavy rainfall has already killed over 500 people and displaced thousands of others through flash floods in mountainous regions. More than 3 million people have been affected by the floods across Pakistan, according to NDMA.

Infrastructure Damage: The floods in northern Pakistan destroyed bridges, roads, and houses, making rescue and relief efforts extremely difficult. The total cost of the damage was estimated at $5 billion, with the bulk of the destruction in flood-prone areas such as Chitral, Swat, and Dera Ismail Khan.

August-September 2024: The heat returns

By August, a new strong wave of extreme heatwaves swept over Pakistan; it was in addition to heavy floods without any rain falling, as well as other residual impacts. In some places, temperatures went beyond 40°C (104°F), and Karachi marked the record 48°C (118°F).

Urban Impact: The extended heatwaves led to severe electricity shortages, as the demand for air conditioning soared. Power outages were widespread in urban centers, particularly Karachi and Lahore, where millions struggled to cope with the sweltering heat.

Pakistan's Punjab warns of 'intense' heatwave in southern districts next week | Arab News PK

The agricultural sector, especially in Sindh, was severely affected. Heatwaves and floods, which occurred simultaneously, left the farmer vulnerable to a lot of crop and livestock loss. The communities were forced into migration because their livelihoods were destroyed.

October-November 2024: Air pollution and smog crisis

The city-based climate crisis turned to air pollution with moderating temperatures. Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad witnessed the worst smog season of the year. A thick haze formed from industrial emissions, vehicle exhausts, and crop burning in the rural areas lingered over cities for weeks.

The WHO estimated the air quality index in Lahore to be hazardous, even reaching a level of up to 400 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5. People complained of severe respiratory issues, which often affected children, the aged, and those with various pre-existing conditions.

Record levels of air pollution blanket Punjab in Pakistan, causing hospitalizations and school closures - ABC News

Cases of respiratory illnesses skyrocketed, according to hospitals, such that an estimated 2,000 people were reportedly admitted to hospitals in Lahore alone during the peak of smog.

The smog also affected business activities, and outdoor events, transportation, and tourism were also badly impacted. The National Health Institute declared that the economic cost of air pollution in Pakistan reached $3 billion in 2024.

What to expect in 2025?

2024 has been a year of devastating climate change impacts in Pakistan. The nation's most vulnerable populations—rural farmers, women, children, and low-income urban dwellers—have suffered the most.

As we look to 2025, there is an urgent need for climate adaptation strategies, improved disaster response systems, and enhanced resilience-building measures. The government's role, along with international support, will be crucial in ensuring that Pakistan is better equipped to face the looming climate crisis in the years ahead.