Pakistan experiences back-to-back ‘warmest years’

Pakistan endured its second-hottest year on record in 2025, a stark continuation of a dangerous warming trend that saw 2024 become the warmest year in 65 years. This escalating heat poses a significant threat to the nation's economy and exacerbates extreme weather events like floods.

The northern regions of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, registered their highest annual temperatures in 65 years. This intense heat is not confined to Pakistan; Europe has seen over 200,000 heat-related deaths since 2022, and the El Nino phenomenon threatens to worsen global weather extremes.

Compounding the climate crisis, the monsoon season has been delayed in India, a neighboring country with significant weather system overlap with Pakistan. This delay could further disrupt agricultural patterns and water availability in the region.

The extreme heat has tangible impacts on daily life, as illustrated by a rickshaw driver in Karachi struggling with feels-like temperatures exceeding 54 degrees Celsius. The systemic risk to Pakistan's economy is immense, affecting agriculture, water resources, and public health.