Climate change Impacts on Migration, Poverty, and Health issues in Pakistan:

A comprehensive Analysis
Abstract
In recent decades the world has been facing climate change issues in terms of global warming,
heat waves, droughts, and other factors as well. Over the period climate gradually impacts the
globe particularly in South Asia and Pakistan is the one of those countries which are directly and
indirectly affected by climate change, including health, agriculture, water resources and
migration impacts. Likewise, study inspect the economic and security issues by analyzing these
factors. Pakistan is a country with a wide geographical landscape which is suffering from several
challenges and its impacts due to climate change. The objective of the study is to highlights how
climate change impacts on migration, poverty, and health issues and how it triggers the losses of
property and livelihood, but also the damage of people’s social well-being. In addition, Pakistan
highly relies on agriculture due to the devastating floods that promote the hurdles for the people
of Pakistan in terms of food insecurity, property damage, poverty, and migration. Besides
research, the article examines the theoretical lens, how climate threats become a catalyst for
displacement. By using mixed method approach, the study explores and indicate that people try
to shape various ways for instance: by altering the agriculture but they face several barriers to
adapting the actions, comparatively further comprehensive analysis target and identify health
issues also providing solution for building strength and resilience in Pakistan counting policy
recommendations and security for the people’ social life.
Key words: Climate Change, Pakistan, Migration, health, social-wellbeing, economic and
security
Introduction
In recent decades Climate Change is become one of the most serious issues of the world, and it
has significant implications for the human life and environment. Increased in harshness and
frequency of extreme weathers create such as floods, heat waves, droughts and rise of
temperature is most visible impact of climate change. ( Rana & Khan, 2023) Additionally,
claimed by scientific assessment that on the global and regional level both in which climate
system has undeniable since the pre industrial period. In the view of Inter Government Panel on
Climate change evolution that global temperature will rise from 1.4 to 5.80C at the end of this
century. Fact of this unprecedented change created multiple factors such as the sea level,
temperature rise, agriculture as well as complete ecosystem of the earth. (Mustafa, n.d)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371857655_Climate_Change_in_Pakistan_Impacts_Strategies_and_the_Way_Forward

It is generally acknowledged that Pakistan explicitly susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Over the period Pakistan suffering from the floods which not only hindered the country
economic growth but also impacts on the migration, poverty and health issues in Pakistan.
(Hussain & Anwar, 2023)
Theoretical Framework
In recent decades the security of climate change emerged after the cold war, agenda of security
rapidly changed. However, the Barry Buzan book ‘Security: A New Framework for Analysis as a
Copenhagen school laid the ground work for the Securitization theory. Eventually, climate
change was considered that time in low politics majorly use of force such as military has
contemplated as a high politics. ( Warner & Boas, 2019) Moreover, the climate change become a
serious threat for Pakistan security in the emergence of climate challenges including rising
temperatures, extreme weather events, food insecurity, and acute water shortage. Pakistan has
witness of devastated flood which not only damaged the poor infrastructure also displaced the
million of people further increased the economic and security crisis with in state. (Akhtar, 2023)
Categorically, in past 2010 flood have devastated the Pakistan economy and became the cause of
death of many people including 20 million people were displaced and $10 billion worth
economically loses by Pakistan. Additionally, many people have migrated from one place to
other place in search of shelter, food, and clean water now, the main problem occur here it
created burden on those areas that people have already lived there. Eventually, it would be
created national security issues for Pakistan. (Bhatti, 2019) Moreover, 60% to 70% population
of Pakistan has directly or indirectly interlinked with agriculture sector however, rampant
insufficiency of water access is the major causes of food insecurity. ( Chauhdry & Javed, 2019)
Changes in weather pattern
Climate change has directly influence through changing weather pattern under the strong
precipitation then the process of water evaporation occurs on the surface route to high
concentration of water vapor which out turn in heavier rainfall its further origin the devasting
floods. In Pakistan the rain has not come on time from the past years not only rain even the wind
has become more expeditious. ( Ajani & Geest, 2021)
Impact on Migration
The UN report figure out that 740 million people internal migrates throughout the world. From
the previous decade South Asian region highly affected by climate change according to the report
of ‘costs of Climate Inaction: Displacement and Distress Migration’ in December 2020 more
than 18 million people were migrate due to the climate change. However, if global warming
continues in same way without adaption, then the temperature further rises nearly 3.2 degrees
Celsius under this factor around 63 million will be displaced in
India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. (Hayat, 2021) Throughout
period Pakistan has been serious effected by climate change
frequently heat, drought, flood and rise of temperature are compel
people to migrate to another place.
Study shows that three types of migration ‘Permanent migration,
Temporary migration, Seasonal migration. However, in the event of
permanent migration families migrate permanently toward their
destination in such condition people left their homes, lands and
small business due to the devastated flood were left with no choice
but to migrate. ( Abbasi & Naeem, 2021) However, in recent years
the pattern of monsoon and precipitation have completely shifted as a result the temperature
ultimately rise that force the community to displaced permanent or temporary toward the save
place. (Farah & Touseef, CLIMATE-INDUCED MIGRATION AND ASSOCIATED RISKS IN
PAKISTAN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW, 2023)
In addition, Pakistan Council of Research in water resources reported that by 2025 Pakistan will
become total water scarce however, this water shortage already impacting the agricultural
production in country for instance: Pakistan hit by flood in 2010 according to report two million
have been displaced and some people move to urban area from rural areas likewise more than
60% people of Pakistan involved in the agriculture. (Khan, 2021) in 2010 devastated flood 2000
people lost their life along damage of infrastructure, towns, cities and corps as well. ( Tower &
Plano, 2022) In Sindh (THATTA) citizen Ameer Ali nearly travelled 70km from its native home
located in the district of Sujawal when devastated flood crumbled his home and the crops of field
also where he works as a agriculture in the crops so thousand of people like Ali forced to
displaced as a result of heavy rainfall and changing in weather pattern. (KUNBHAR, 2022)
 Natural disasters outrush the people to migrate
 Limited food production growth due to droughts
 People trying to access to clean water

a) Women and Children

Women and children both are highly vulnerable affected by climate change in Pakistan, mainly
due to the insecure living and low capital. Moreover, in flood crisis mostly women and children
suffering with shortage of food, lack of access to clean water, and in this case pregnant women
face high level of food insecurity as a result malnourishment is projected due to climate change.
(Centre, 2021)
Impact on poverty
Poverty trap is a turning situation which doesn’t allow people to run away from the poverty.
However, Poor people cannot save enough budget to overcome the poverty with the passage of
time situation going to worse for the poor to handle the capital for family. Now, climate change is
directly interlinked to the poverty for developing and under developing countries. Uncertain and
unpredictable heavy rain and flood destroy the crops of farmers which ultimately pushed the
people into poor circle. (Huma, 2019) For international exports Pakistan heavy depend on the
agriculture sector in the sight of water crisis and flushed system for agriculture production
Pakistan has several challenges due to the scarcity of water. In addition, in the year of 2022
Pakistan has meet with devastated flood where this country lost 30 billion rupees and also the
infrastructure. Respectively according to the global food and security index Pakistan ranked 83
out of 113 states in 2021. (Ishaque & Tanvir, 2022) Moreover, in gross domestic product nearly
21% agriculture contribute and 70% of export income with 45% of labor force employs in these
climatic circumstances 33% of irregularity in the yields of rice, and 30% of variability in the
wheat fertility as a result of climate change further 30% decline in yield crops by 2080. ( Riaz &
Faisal , 2019)
so, the farmer cannot earn enough money to fertile the land for upcoming season even not fulfil
his need they live under poverty ratio

The data collected by the National Disaster Management authority that show that climate change
had affected the provinces vulnerable the households making their life more difficult however
impact on poverty lying between the 3.7 to 4 percentage in other words 9 million even in the
poverty line additional 7 million people added in list a short term estimated by NDMA recovery
will relies on the government quality of relief and effort of infrastructure. Respectively the World
bank reported that poverty rate will rise from 2.4 to 4 % after the 2022 devastated flood
according to the Asian Development Bank there are 220 million people of which 20% live
already under the poverty line. (France24, 2022) Because the total area of cropland around 78000
km sq were flourished by the 2022 flood along with 81 districts additionally, estimated that 80%
of crops were damaged. Food crops for farmers such as onions, rice, tomatoes and other
vegetables had been destroyed that had been growing on the thousands of acres land. According
to the world bank 2021 country profile that in crops and essential food in which yield is
decreases on the large scale more importantly, climate change has serious impact on inflation in
Pakistan in the month of July 14% to 25% inflation was increase means, that 9 million people
additional are going to in poverty. (Malik, 2023)
Impact on Health Issues
Climate change has a significance effect on human health directly and indirectly speedily under
the direct including the illness, mental disorder, trauma, and other disease due to the droughts,
floods, rain storms, and natural fires as well moving toward indirect effect where the conditions
of environment and ecological are change however, the quality of yield of crops gradually
decrease and the quantity of drinking clean water also less these factors spread water borne,
vector borne , and illness diseases. (Iqbal, 2020) More importantly the existence of so much
standing water of flood 2022 creating the mosquitoes expanding the chance of malaria, cholera,
dengue, and fungal skin infection moreover the doctor working in Sindh Hyderabad quoted that
mostly patients have suffered with malaria with skin rushes by using polluted water supplies
according to the reported of WHO 10% of Paksitani’s people healthcare facilities had been
destroyed or damaged due to the flooding in 2022 already country facing with lack access of
primary healthcare utility then the loss of more than two thousands further raised the alarm
situation for Pakistan. (Eastasiaforum, 2023)

Source: https://www.healthdata.org/pakistan

In recent periods Pakistan has suffering from serious non-communicable diseases including
stroke and ischemic heart disease this environment impact disease cannot be cured, they must
need to be prevented and managed throughout life. Regarding to stunting Pakistan demographic
and health survey found that under the age of 5 nearly 57% of children physically are stunted
moreover, air pollution further causes disease and death such as the lower respiratory infections,
diabetics, lung cancer, and blindless. ( Ahmed & Nabi , 2022)
a) Malaria
According to the World Health Organization number of malaria cases increases in the Pakistan
after the 2022 flood only 400000 cases recorded in 2021 as a result of flood malaria cases
jumped to 1.4 million. Specifically, the districts of Sindh and Baluchistan have been partially
affected due to rural areas water stayed there for a long time and there was no way to out. (Cross,
2023)