ISLAMABAD: Former climate change minister and PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman strongly criticized the federal government on Wednesday for drastically reducing the environment protection budget in the fiscal year 2025–2026.
Speaking during a Senate session, Rehman expressed deep concern over the slashing of climate funds, warning that the cuts undermine Pakistan’s ability to tackle its escalating climate crisis.
She revealed that the budget for environment protection has been halved — from Rs7.2 billion to just Rs3.1 billion — despite the country facing unprecedented climate stress.
Rehman highlighted that the funds for pollution abatement alone have dropped from Rs6.29 billion to Rs3.1 billion, questioning the government’s seriousness in addressing climate resilience.
Rising Heat and Growing Vulnerabilities
The senator pointed to extreme weather patterns already impacting Pakistan, noting that temperatures in parts of Sindh and Balochistan have recently hit 49°C.
She reminded the Senate that other countries declare national emergencies when the temperature approaches 40°C, while Pakistan experiences even higher temperatures without action.
“Jacobabad reached 50°C last year, and we’ve seen 53°C in the last three years,” she said.
“Pakistan is becoming the hottest place on the planet — a disaster we cannot ignore.”
Rehman warned that if Pakistan continues on this trajectory without serious funding and action, the country will become increasingly dependent on international climate aid, which itself is facing global reductions.
Climate Risk Rankings and Budget Disconnect
According to the 2025 Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, Pakistan ranks as the world’s most climate-vulnerable country — a consequence of severe weather events like the 2022 floods, which affected 33 million people and killed over 1,700.
The report also attributes the increased severity of monsoon rainfall to climate change, estimating a 50% rise due to global warming.
Senator Rehman criticized the contradiction in government priorities, noting that despite making loud claims about climate-resilient development, the actual budget allocations contradict these ambitions.
She concluded with a call to reverse the cuts and take urgent steps to fortify climate defenses, warning that inaction will only deepen Pakistan’s exposure to catastrophic environmental threats.
