Pakistan is in the middle of a climate emergency. It is wreaking havoc across the country and it’s the poorest communities and women who are paying the heaviest price.
Millions of people in Pakistan have already lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones as a result of more dangerous and more frequent floods, droughts, heatwaves and storms, caused by a climate crisis they did not create.
Climate change was impacting lives in Pakistan for decades; however, never being taken seriously. It was the floods of 2022 that sent shockwaves across the country to cope with it before it’s too late. IR Pakistan terms the climatic challenges as one of the biggest issues being faced by the country. Our actions are decisive, impactful and timely.
With climate change at the heart of our efforts, we are building resilience among communities to better prepare them against it. We are campaigning for climate action and working with our partners to bring the voices of communities affected by climate change into international negotiations and discussions, to ensure global temperature increases are kept below 1.5C and that people living in developing countries are supported to adapt.
Islamic Relief Pakistan met with the former Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss the climate crisis.
In result of our efforts, communities are more aware than ever about climate change. In Sindh where coastal communities were migrating to safer areas due to sea intrusion, our climate smart solutions are transforming lives.
Pakistan being an agricultural country bears the brunt of changing weather patterns. Crop yields have significantly dropped and fruits for which the country was known for, are losing taste and quality. Through our projects, we are educating farmer communities in Balochistan to adapt and practice climate resilient agriculture. We are providing them with new seeds, sowing techniques and solar energy to prosper in these challenging times.
Sow, Grow and Reap The Benefits
Dost Muhammad, a father of seven struggled as a labourer and fisherman to provide for his family. Floods forced them to leave home, and upon return, they faced extreme poverty.
“After the floodwaters receded, we faced unprecedented challenges. There was a scarcity of food, and the available work couldn’t provide sufficient earnings to meet our daily needs.”
Islamic Relief supported Dost with seeds for his kitchen garden and a water pumping motor, enabling him to grow essential vegetables even in low water conditions.
“Now, my family doesn’t go hungry, and we are growing our own food.”
Islamic Relief Pakistan is focusing on research based solutions for climate change. For that we are working with various universities, think tanks, climate actors in Pakistan and internationally to achieve climate justice for the people of Pakistan.
Helping Communities Thrives
Said Mali, a hardworking farmer in Khyber district, faced challenges in utilizing his land effectively due to changing weather, insufficient resources, and water scarcity. Feeling disheartened, he dreamt of a thriving farm but struggled with traditional methods.
In this time of adversity, Islamic Relief helped Said Mali by providing essential support in the form of drip irrigation technology for his olive and lemon farm. Over the course of just a few years, this support transformed his farm into thriving success.
“My farm’s produce has gained significant popularity, with a growing demand for my olive-based products. From olive pickles, oil and tea to lemon-based products, such as lemon pickles and tangy lemon sauce, I sell them all in the market. The positive response not only motivates me for farming but has also translated into a rewarding source of income.”
In a bid to decarbonize the air, we are actively planting suitable trees in different parts of the country. As IR Pakistan carries out the biggest humanitarian response in Pakistan after the floods of 2022, we are building climate resilient houses in Sindh and Balochistan to withstand future disasters and risks.
Through our efforts and by joining hands with our partners and donors, we share the commitments to support large scale climate interventions in adaptation and mitigation, decarbonization, and protection of biodiversity and natural capital.