Families in Lahore, Pakistan, who survived the deadly winter smog are now losing their homes to catastrophic floods. This is a stark look at the human cost of climate change and a non-stop cycle of disaster trapping the country’s most vulnerable.
Introduction
Perched on a neighbor’s rooftop in Shahdara, a suburb of Lahore, Ghulam Bano watches the murky, foul-smelling water that has consumed her home. For her and millions like her, this is more than just a flood; it’s the latest chapter in a cruel, unending cycle of disaster. Just last year, she moved her family here to escape the toxic smog of central Lahore that left her husband coughing up blood. She fled the poisoned air only to be trapped by raging waters. This is the grim reality for Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens: a relentless swing between two environmental extremes, where there is no longer a season of relief, only a different kind of suffering.
Background: The Unrelenting Cycle
For years, Pakistan, and particularly its Punjab province, has been on the front lines of a dual climate crisis.
First comes the winter smog. From November to February, Lahore frequently earns the grim title of the world’s most polluted megacity. A thick, toxic haze blankets the region, a poisonous cocktail of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural crop burning. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a public health emergency that causes severe respiratory diseases, worsens chronic conditions like tuberculosis, and is responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year.
Then comes the summer monsoon. Once a life-giving season for the agricultural heartland, the monsoon has been rendered violent and erratic by climate change. Scientists have repeatedly warned that rising global temperatures are supercharging the seasonal rains, leading to more frequent and intense flooding. The catastrophic floods of 2022, which submerged a third of the country, are a recent and terrifying precedent. For Pakistani families, the choice is stark: choke on toxic air in the winter or risk being washed away in the summer.
The Current Catastrophe: When the Rivers Broke
This week, heavier-than-usual monsoon rains caused three of the region’s major rivers, including the Ravi, to burst their banks. The subsequent flooding has engulfed vast swathes of Punjab, impacting the lives of over 1.4 million people and forcing the evacuation of more than 265,000, according to provincial officials. Nationwide, the death toll from floods and landslides since June has tragically surpassed 800.
The human cost of these statistics is staggering. In low-lying, impoverished neighborhoods like Shahdara, hastily built homes stood no chance against the deluge. Dozens of families have taken refuge in a local elementary school, which now serves as a makeshift camp where doctors are treating a wave of skin infections caused by the contaminated floodwater.
The personal stories paint a devastating picture. Ghulam Bano, whose husband is already bedridden, is now the sole provider for her family with no home, no clean water, and little food. “I ate today after two days,” she confessed, her voice a testament to the desperation.
Amir Mehmood, a 32-year-old shopkeeper, captured the collective exhaustion and hopelessness. “We just can’t get a break,” he said. “Children fall ill in the smog… and now there’s a flood. Our homes have collapsed… everything is damaged.”
Analysis: A Crisis of Climate and Inequality
To label this a simple “natural disaster” would be to ignore the clear-cut causes. This is a crisis fueled by global climate change and compounded by local vulnerabilities. While Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is consistently ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable nations. The intensified monsoons and heatwaves are a direct consequence of a warming planet.
However, inadequate urban planning and social inequality determine who suffers most. The impoverished communities living in unplanned settlements along riverbanks are the first to be inundated. Their homes lack the structural integrity to withstand the floods, and they lack the financial resources to evacuate or rebuild. This is a story of climate injustice, where those who have contributed the least to the problem bear the heaviest burden.
The government’s response, while necessary, remains largely reactive. Setting up over 300 relief camps is a crucial emergency measure, but it does little to address the root causes of the recurring tragedy. Without proactive investment in resilient infrastructure and sustainable environmental policies, these camps will become a permanent feature of Pakistan’s seasonal landscape.
Future Outlook: “The Worst Is Yet to Come”
With meteorological departments forecasting more heavy rain over the weekend, the immediate crisis is far from over. The risk of further urban flooding in Lahore is high, and the humanitarian needs of the displaced will only continue to grow.
In the long term, Pakistan faces an existential threat. The cycle of smog and floods is not an anomaly; it is the new, terrifying normal. Addressing it requires a monumental shift in policy and priorities. This includes:
- Climate Adaptation: Investing heavily in flood defenses, early warning systems, and climate-resilient urban planning.
- Pollution Control: Implementing and enforcing strict regulations on industrial emissions and vehicular traffic to combat the deadly winter smog.
- International Support: Demanding climate financing and support from the developed nations primarily responsible for the climate crisis.
From a shelter at the school camp, 40-year-old widow Tabassum Suleman, who fled for her life with no time to even grab clothes for her children, looked up at the dark, threatening sky. “We do not know when we will be going back home,” she said. “But the worst is yet to come.” Her words serve as a chilling warning not just for Pakistan, but for the world.
