News
August 31, 2025
Smog then floods: Pakistani families ‘can’t catch a break’
LAHORE, Aug 30 — Perched on her neighbour’s rooftop, Ghulam Bano gazes down at the remains of her home,...
**LAHORE, Aug 30** – For many families in Pakistan, it feels like they're trapped in a relentless cycle of environmental disasters. From choking smog that blankets the winter months to devastating floods during the monsoon season, the country’s most vulnerable communities are struggling to cope with the escalating impacts of climate change.
Ghulam Bano, a resident of a flood-stricken area, can only watch helplessly from a neighbor's rooftop as the floodwaters slowly recede, revealing the wreckage of what was once her home. The scene is a stark reminder of the destructive power of the recent monsoon rains, which have inundated vast swathes of land and displaced countless families.
"It feels like we can't catch a break," Bano said, her voice heavy with despair. "First, we choke on smog all winter, and then the floods come and wash everything away. How are we supposed to rebuild our lives when this keeps happening?"
The story of Ghulam Bano is not unique. Across Pakistan, families are facing similar challenges. The annual smog, caused by a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and crop burning, blankets major cities like Lahore, causing respiratory problems and significantly impacting public health. Then, as the monsoon season arrives, the same communities find themselves battling torrential rains and overflowing rivers, leading to widespread flooding, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.
Experts say that climate change is exacerbating these existing environmental challenges. Rising temperatures are contributing to more intense and prolonged droughts, which in turn make the land more vulnerable to flooding when the rains finally arrive. The unpredictable weather patterns are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to plan their crops, leading to food insecurity and economic hardship.
The situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address climate change and its impacts in Pakistan. This includes investing in renewable energy sources to reduce air pollution, improving water management infrastructure to mitigate the risk of flooding, and providing support to communities to adapt to the changing climate.
Ghulam Bano, a resident of a flood-stricken area, can only watch helplessly from a neighbor's rooftop as the floodwaters slowly recede, revealing the wreckage of what was once her home. The scene is a stark reminder of the destructive power of the recent monsoon rains, which have inundated vast swathes of land and displaced countless families.
"It feels like we can't catch a break," Bano said, her voice heavy with despair. "First, we choke on smog all winter, and then the floods come and wash everything away. How are we supposed to rebuild our lives when this keeps happening?"
The story of Ghulam Bano is not unique. Across Pakistan, families are facing similar challenges. The annual smog, caused by a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and crop burning, blankets major cities like Lahore, causing respiratory problems and significantly impacting public health. Then, as the monsoon season arrives, the same communities find themselves battling torrential rains and overflowing rivers, leading to widespread flooding, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.
Experts say that climate change is exacerbating these existing environmental challenges. Rising temperatures are contributing to more intense and prolonged droughts, which in turn make the land more vulnerable to flooding when the rains finally arrive. The unpredictable weather patterns are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to plan their crops, leading to food insecurity and economic hardship.
The situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address climate change and its impacts in Pakistan. This includes investing in renewable energy sources to reduce air pollution, improving water management infrastructure to mitigate the risk of flooding, and providing support to communities to adapt to the changing climate.
Category:
World