Pakistan stands at a critical environmental tipping point, where shrinking forests, fragile infrastructure, and rising temperatures are driving increasingly frequent and severe disasters. The recent 2025 floods, among the deadliest in recent years, claimed 1,002 lives, including 565 men, 163 women, and 274 children, while leaving 1,063 people injured across the country. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, elders and rural families were disproportionately affected. The floods also destroyed 4,128 houses, partially damaged 8,441, killed 6,509 livestock, damaged 1,896 km of roads and 239 bridges, and disrupted schools, water systems and forests. These impacts underscore the urgent need for gender-responsive and resilient disaster relief. (https://ndma.gov.pk/public/sitrepm)
Climate change deepens humanitarian crises, and women are often hardest hit due to unequal access to resources, increased caregiving roles, and heightened health and safety risks. In Punjab’s villages, the floods disrupted livelihoods, water sources and sanitation, severely affecting women and children.
From September 4–8, 2025, WISE (Women in Struggle for Empowerment) mobilized immediate relief efforts with a feminist approach to humanitarian response. Essential relief packages were distributed to 100 families in flood-affected villages of Chiniot, ensuring food security, healthcare support, and protection of dignity for women and girls.
Recognizing children’s needs, WISE also provided 100 school bags with supportive items to help restore a sense of normalcy and joy amidst crisis. Through these efforts, WISE reaffirmed its commitment to centering women’s rights and dignity in disaster relief, while bringing hope and solidarity to affected communities on their path to recovery.
Way Forward
This crisis highlights the urgent need to strengthen Pakistan’s preparedness for climate-driven disasters. Accessible early warning systems, gender-responsive planning, and women’s leadership are essential. Nature-based solutions like reforestation, watershed management, and wetland restoration can reduce future flood impacts.
Climate-resilient infrastructure must be prioritized, including safer housing, roads, and bridges, alongside strict enforcement against unsafe construction in flood-prone areas. Social protection, mobile health services, and psychosocial support should be scaled up, focusing on women and children, the most vulnerable during crises.
Pakistan’s situation underscores the need for international climate financing and solidarity. Despite contributing less than 1 percent of global emissions, the country faces severe climate impacts. Adaptation funding, technology transfer, and strong partnerships are vital to support recovery and build resilience.
