Children in Pakistan Face Growing Health Risks as Climate Crisis Intensifies
Pakistan’s children are increasingly bearing the brunt of the climate emergency, as environmental hazards continue to endanger their health and future. Experts warn that without urgent investment in clean air, safe drinking water, and proper sanitation systems, the country risks long-term social and economic consequences.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 36% of childhood illnesses in Pakistan are linked to environmental factors, including toxic air, contaminated water, and poor waste-management infrastructure. Health specialists caution that these problems are only expected to worsen as climate impacts accelerate.
Policy researchers argue that the issue has not been given the attention it urgently requires.
Dr. Rabia Chaudhry, a public policy expert at Forman Christian College University, said climate action in Pakistan is often viewed through the “lens of infrastructure and megaprojects,” while the human toll — especially on children — remains ignored. She emphasized that coordinated efforts between government, civil society, and academia are essential to build child-focused climate policies.
Legal perspectives also highlight growing disparities.
Sheherazade Amin, Legal Advisor to the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), noted that climate change has now been formally included in the commission’s strategic mandate. She stressed that girls are disproportionately affected, as climate-driven floods, disease, and pollution force many into child marriage, unpaid labor, and interrupted education.
Advocates warn that excluding girls and young people from climate decision-making will make sustainable progress impossible.
Despite the worsening conditions, hope still flickers among the younger generation. In smog-filled urban neighborhoods, children look toward a safer future — a future where clean skies and healthier surroundings are not a privilege but a right. Their voices, experts say, must guide Pakistan’s climate response if the nation is to secure a brighter Tomorrow
