By Sardar Khan Niazi

In the summer of 2025, Pakistan once again found itself drowning—not just in water, but also in a crisis of planning, governance, and environmental negligence. The floods that ravaged large swathes of the country, from Sindh to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are not merely a natural disaster. They are a clear, devastating warning of what the future holds if we continue to ignore the climate emergency, the fragility of our infrastructure, and the vulnerability of our people. It is easy, in times like these, to point to unusually heavy monsoon rains and label the catastrophe an act of God. However, doing so only absolves us of the accountability we to a great extent need. This year’s deluge was not unexpected. Scientists, environmentalists, and local communities have been sounding the alarm for years: climate change is intensifying weather patterns, and Pakistan is on the frontlines. In 2022, record-breaking floods submerged a third of the country, putting out of place millions. The events of 2025 prove that little has changed since then. Despite international pledges and high-level meetings, the most vulnerable regions remain just as exposed. Riverbeds remain clogged, early warning systems are patchy, and drainage infrastructure in urban areas continues to crumble under pressure. Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, turned into a waterlogged maze once again this year. In rural areas, crops were washed away and livestock lost–deepening the already severe food insecurity. Entire families were displaced, schools destroyed, and means of support shattered. We are no longer talking about the occasional bad year. This is becoming the new normal. Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change. This fact is often referred to in international forums, and rightly so. Nevertheless, it must also be a call to action within our own borders. We may not be the biggest polluters, but we must become the loudest advocates for resilience, sustainability, and environmental justice. First, we need to own up that climate adaptation is no longer optional–it is an urgent necessity. That means investing in flood-resistant infrastructure, expanding and enforcing zoning laws to prevent construction on floodplains, and protecting our forests and wetlands that act as natural buffers. It means giving local governments the resources and authority they need to respond effectively to disasters. Second, we must place in order education and awareness. The public must be equipped with the knowledge to prepare for floods, respond during emergencies, and recover afterward. Early warning systems must not only exist–they must work, be trusted, and reach every Tom, Dick, and Harry. As a final point, the political will to act must overcome the inertia of bureaucracy and short-term thinking. Disaster management cannot be treated as a reactive exercise every monsoon season. It requires year-round commitment, planning, and above all, listening to those most affected. The floods of 2025 are not just a humanitarian crisis–they are a mirror reflecting our collective failure to prepare for a changing world. However, within this crisis lies an opportunity. If we act decisively now, we can still protect our future generations from even greater suffering. The cost of inaction is far higher than the price of prevention. Pakistan’s people are resilient. They have shown this time and again in the face of unimaginable adversity. Nevertheless, resilience alone is not enough. They deserve leadership that treats climate change not as an occasional headline, but as the defining issue of our time. Let the tragedy of 2025 be the turning point–not just another chapter in a long story of missed chances.