Climate change and policy paralysis in Pakistan

Pakistan ranks among the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, experiencing recurrent floods, extreme heatwaves, droughts, and water insecurity despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. Although numerous climate policies and strategic frameworks have been formulated, their implementation remains substantially limited, exemplifying policy paralysis where in political acknowledgment fails to translate into effective action.

This study examines climate change through a public policy and governance lens, contending that the crisis represents primarily an institutional failure rather than insufficient awareness. Key drivers of policy paralysis include weak implementation mechanisms, federal-provincial fragmentation following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, short-term political incentives, donor-driven policy formulation, and inadequate evidence-based decision-making processes. The 2022 floods particularly illustrate how deficient planning, unregulated land use, and limited disaster preparedness amplified climate risks. This analysis reframes climate change as fundamentally a governance challenge, emphasizing the necessity of mainstreaming climate considerations into development planning, budgeting frameworks, and administrative reforms. Without strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing intergovernmental coordination, and committing to long-term climate resilience strategies, Pakistan will continue confronting recurrent climate emergencies, threatening economic stability and national security.