The Invisible Frontline: How Climate Change Hits Pakistani Women First and Hardest
For NGOs working in Pakistan, understanding the gendered impact of climate change isn’t optional anymore. Women here face a “crisis within a crisis”. Here’s what the data shows, and why it matters for programs on the ground.
1. Health & Reproductive Burden: When floods become a maternal health emergency
Climate disasters hit women’s bodies first.
– 2022 floods: UNFPA estimated at least 650,000 pregnant women were trapped by floods, with 73,000 needing urgent obstetric care. Around 8.2 million women were among the worst affected.
– Access collapsed: 1,000+ essential family health service centers were damaged/ruined, forcing women to deliver in tents or camps with no safe equipment. UNFPA distributed 7,411 newborn kits + 8,311 menstruation kits as emergency response.
– Heat & pregnancy: Exposure to high temperatures is linked to premature birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight. A BMC Medicine study found 9.39–13.15% of low-birth-weight cases in Pakistan from 2008–2017
Pakistan’s Path to Zero Emissions – Targets, Gaps & Way Forward
Executive Summary
Pakistan contributes <1% of global GHG emissions but ranks among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries. With NDC 3.0 submitted Sept 2025 and COP30 underway, Pakistan has set ambitious zero-emission targets: 50% GHG cut by 2035, 60% renewables by 2030, net-zero transport by 2060. Current data shows progress on renewables, but delivery depends on $565.7B climate finance, grid upgrades, and fossil fuel phase-out. This brief outlines the status, opportunities, and 5 priority actions for NGOs and partners.
1. Current Status & National Targets
Mitigation Targets
Economy-wide: 50% GHG reduction by 2035 vs BAU under NDC 3.0. Unconditional domestic contribution = 17%, up from 15%. Remaining 33% conditional on $565.7B international finance.
Power: 60% renewable energy by 2030; 95% renewable electricity by 2040. As of Sept 2025, renewables already = 46% of generation mix, surpassing 2025 target.
Transport: New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025-30 targets 30% EV sales for new vehicles by 2030 + net-zero transport emissions by 2060. Projected savings: 2.07B litres fuel/year ≈ $1B forex + 4.5M tons CO2 cut.
Coal: No new imported coal plants. Plan to phase down coal 50% by 2035.
From Economic Dependence to Independence: Pakistan’s Women and the Road to Financial Agency
Pakistan’s women are at a crossroads. Despite making up half the population, their economic contribution remains far below potential. Moving from dependence to independence requires dismantling structural barriers and building pathways to financial agency. Here’s what the data shows and what needs to change.
1. The Current Reality: Low Participation, High Dependence
Labor force gap: Women’s labor force participation is only ∼22.63% compared to 84.79% for men. This means nearly 4 out of 5 Pakistani women are outside the formal workforce.
Informal & unpaid work: Of the women who do work, 68% are in informal employment and 81% are unpaid family workers. Agriculture dominates: 68% of employed women work in agriculture vs 39% of men.
Income gap: Women earn just 18% of what men earn. On average, Pakistani women earn 16.3% less than men for comparable work.
Unpaid care burden: Women spend 5 hours/day on unpaid care work vs 20 minutes for men. This “time poverty” directly limits paid work options.
Women’s economic independence in Pakistan won’t come from piecemeal projects. It requires shifting from viewing women as “beneficiaries” to treating them as economic agents – with rights to assets, income, and decision-making. The data is clear: when women earn, entire households and the national economy gain.