Climate disasters drain 9.5% of Pakistan’s GDP

November 27, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan is losing an estimated 9.5% of its GDP each year due to flood damages and economic disruptions, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik said on Wednesday.

He made these remarks at a Pakistan Business Council panel discussion that examined the rising costs of climate inaction.

Speaking at the session titled “Climate Resilience: Who Pays the Price for Delay?”, the Minister outlined the severe human and economic toll of recent climate-induced disasters.

He said around 4,700 people have died in Pakistan’s last four major floods, a number he noted exceeds casualties from any war in the country’s history.

An additional 18,000 people have been injured or permanently disabled, while over 3 million citizens have been displaced from their homes, according to the press release.

Dr Musadik Malik said the cost of climate change extends beyond financial losses to include disability, death, loss of education, livelihoods, and social stability impacts that continue long after floodwaters recede.

He warned that Pakistan’s geographic position at the foothills of the Himalayas places it at the center of rapid glacial melt, resulting in altered rainfall patterns and shifts in river and canal flows.

These changes, he cautioned, threaten future food security and water availability if not addressed urgently.

Pointing to global emissions disparities, the Minister noted that Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In contrast, two neighbouring countries account for nearly 40%, while ten countries collectively produce more than 70% of global emissions despite Pakistan being among the most climate-vulnerable nations.

The panel discussion also featured Sam Waldock, Development Director at the British High Commission, and Syed Jamal Baquar, CEO of TPL REIT Management Company, who joined in reviewing the human, economic, and environmental consequences of delayed climate action.

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