Budget Challenges
Budget Challenges: Pakistan faces serious climate threats. Floods, droughts, heatwaves, and melting glaciers affect millions of people. In the 2026–27 federal budget, the government allocated Rs2.478 billion to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). This allocation shows that the government recognizes climate risks. However, many people question whether the money will bring real environmental improvements.
Forest Protection
The government allocated Rs2.335 billion to the Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme. This amount makes up more than 94 per cent of the ministry’s budget. Tree planting helps fight climate change. However, Pakistan continues to lose mature forests because of illegal logging, urban expansion, and farming. Mature trees store more carbon, reduce floods, and protect wildlife better than young trees. The government must protect existing forests as well as plant new ones.
Better Monitoring
The government also needs to improve monitoring. Many saplings die after planting. If officials keep replacing dead trees without checking survival rates, they will waste public money. These projects may benefit contractors more than the environment if they fail to produce lasting results.
Green Skills
The budget also provides Rs51.6 million for the Green Skills for Sustainable Development programme. The programme trains young people for green jobs. However, Pakistan has very few green industries. As a result, many trained workers may struggle to find jobs.
Urban Planning
The government has also allocated Rs50 million to prepare a National Urban Strategy and Guidelines. The plan aims to reduce urban flooding. Pakistan already has many policy documents. However, many local governments lack funds to improve drainage systems, protect wetlands, and enforce building rules. New plans alone cannot solve these problems.
Limited Funding
The overall climate budget remains too small. Pakistan needs more investment in climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, and climate resilience. These measures can better protect people from future disasters.
Government spending on climate projects has also fallen. The ministry received Rs9.6 billion in 2022–23. In 2026–27, it received only Rs2.48 billion. Inflation has further reduced the value of this funding. As a result, the government now spends much less on climate development.
Need for Transparency
The smaller budget shows that Pakistan depends more on foreign support and funding from other sectors. Most of the available money still goes to tree planting. The government spends much less on climate adaptation, disaster management, and long-term resilience.
Pakistan must make climate spending more transparent. The government should conduct independent audits, publish project data, and strengthen accountability. These steps will ensure that public money delivers real environmental results. Only then can Pakistan build strong and lasting climate resilience.
Published in Dawn, 28th June 2026
