Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA – June 5: As the global community observes World Environment Day 2025, it’s critical to shine a spotlight on Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most climate-vulnerable province. Spanning nearly half of the country’s landmass, Balochistan faces severe climate change impacts including heatwaves, drought, wildfires, flash floods, water scarcity, and environmental degradation.
With a scattered and marginalized population living across mountains, deserts, and arid plains, Balochistan is on the frontlines of global warming. The province is increasingly exposed to natural disasters that destroy infrastructure, devastate agriculture, and disrupt livelihoods. The situation is exacerbated by limited access to renewable energy, inefficient water management, and a lack of climate-resilient infrastructure.
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Our Land, Our Future,” highlights the urgency of restoring ecosystems and adopting sustainable practices. In Balochistan, this message is not just symbolic — it is a call to action. The unchecked exploitation of forests, rising carbon emissions, and depletion of natural water sources threaten the region’s ecological balance and public health.
Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, and Balochistan is its ground zero. Yet, investment in climate adaptation, disaster management, and sustainability solutions remains alarmingly low.
Call to Action:
We urge the government, environmental agencies, and development partners to:
- Launch sustainable water management projects to address the escalating water crisis.
- Promote renewable energy solutions like solar and wind to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
- Strengthen disaster preparedness and early warning systems to mitigate damage from future calamities.
- Enforce strict measures against deforestation and land degradation, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like the Ziarat juniper forests.
- Raise public awareness about climate change mitigation and carbon footprint reduction.
