Pakistan to Climate-Proof Infrastructure: What the Plan Means and Why It Matters

ISLAMABAD, May 06 (ABC): Pakistan plans to climate-proof 75% of its major infrastructure by 2040, as part of a broader strategy to reduce vulnerability to floods, heatwaves, and other -related risks. The initiative reflects growing concern over repeated disasters that have damaged roads, bridges, and economic systems in recent years.

What is the plan?

According to Wealth Pakistan,an official policy document, Pakistan aims to strengthen key infrastructure systems and make them more resilient to impacts. This includes upgrading 70% of critical assets in high-risk areas such as floodplains and heat-affected districts. The plan also outlines the development of 25 “Resilient Growth Zones” by 2030. These zones are expected to support economic activity while incorporating climate-adaptive design and planning. A central feature of the strategy is the integration of climate risk assessments into all public infrastructure decisions at the provincial level by 2027. This means new projects would be required to evaluate potential climate risks and include the cost of adaptation measures before approval.

Why does it matter?

Pakistan is among the countries most exposed to -related disasters. Flooding, extreme heat, and erratic weather patterns have increasingly disrupted infrastructure and economic activity. The document highlights that much of the country’s infrastructure was built without comprehensive climate risk assessments. As a result, many assets are vulnerable to extreme weather events. Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure isintended to reduce long-term costs. Preventive upgrades are often less expensive than rebuilding after disasters, and they can help maintain economic stability.

Which sectors are affected?

The strategy identifies several priority areas for climate-proofing:

• National highways and major transport corridors
• River basins and water management systems
• Energy transmission networks
• Ports and logistics infrastructure
• Routes linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Strengthening these systems is expected to improve connectivity, protect supply chains, and support economic resilience.

What approaches will be used?

The plan emphasizes a mix of engineering and nature-based solutions. These include:

• Climate-resilient construction standards
• Early warning systems for disasters
• “Sponge city” designs that improve urban drainage
• Integrated watershed management
• Nature-based drainage systems

It also introduces tools such as climate-informed cost-benefit analysis and disaster risk budgeting to guide investment decisions.

What has changed in recent years?

Recent disasters have underscored the urgency of improving infrastructure resilience. In 2022, large-scale floods damaged about 13,000 kilometres of roads and 410 bridges, with economic losses estimated at $30 billion. Flooding in 2025 caused over 1,000 deaths and displaced up to 1.8 million people. Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan all experienced significant impacts, including damage to agriculture, housing, and transport systems. Pilot efforts are already underway in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, where development organizations are applying climate risk screening to infrastructure projects in collaboration with the government.

What happens next?

The policy aims to institutionalize climate risk screening across all major infrastructure projects. If implemented as planned, future investments would be designed to withstand climate stress and reduce disaster-related losses. The approach represents a shift from reactive disaster response to forward-looking planning, with a focus on long-term resilience and sustainability.