# **Detailed SUMMARY of the Article "No time left", Dawn, February 6th, 2025**: *CSS CORNER PLATFORM* Pakistan stands on the precipice of an environmental crisis as it endures a relentless barrage of extreme heat, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and pervasive air pollution that engulfs its urban centers in annual smog, all of which signal a profound failure in environmental governance; the article underscores that while the nation is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable in the world, its political discourse remains fixated on short-term issues, leaving climate change as a mere footnote until disasters force attention, and this negligence is painfully evident in the disintegration of rural communities where retreating glaciers, erratic monsoons, and dust-blown fertile lands paint a bleak picture of the future, necessitating a revolutionary overhaul in environmental policies and practices—a call that Dawn’s “Breathe Pakistan” campaign has initiated but which requires unprecedented coordination among government bodies, industry leaders, international partners, researchers, civil society organizations, and local communities; the article argues that climate change must be elevated to the highest tier of national security concerns, comparable to terrorism and economic stability, and proposes fundamental shifts including the imposition of substantial fines on polluters, stringent emissions controls, and massive investments in public transportation and green urban planning that preserve remaining forests, alongside urgent agricultural reforms to mitigate the depletion of water reserves through the adoption of drought-resistant crops and water-smart irrigation systems, all while steering the nation toward an energy transition that capitalizes on abundant renewable resources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power; it further emphasizes that the private sector must be held accountable through tax incentives for sustainable practices, international partners should bolster efforts with debt relief mechanisms and climate finance tied to green development, and a radical reimagining of environmental education and media reporting is essential to foster comprehensive climate literacy and grassroots participation, for without these coordinated and resolute actions, Pakistan risks surrendering to a future defined by escalating environmental disasters. # **Easy/Short SUMMARY**: Pakistan is facing severe environmental problems like extreme heat, floods, droughts, and heavy smog that make life difficult in both cities and villages. The country is one of the most vulnerable to climate change, but political discussions focus on other issues until disasters force the issue into the spotlight. A campaign called “Breathe Pakistan” has tried to bring attention to these problems, but more drastic changes are needed. These include stronger environmental laws, better urban planning that saves trees and creates cleaner transport options, smarter farming methods that save water, and a shift to renewable energy like solar and wind power. The private sector and international partners must also work together, and better environmental education and media reporting can help everyone understand and tackle these challenges. # **SOLUTIONS of The Problem**: ## **Strengthening Environmental Policies and Regulations** - Overhaul existing environmental protection frameworks. - Implement substantial fines for polluters and enforce stringent emissions controls. ## **Green Urban Planning and Sustainable Public Transportation** - Transition urban development from concrete jungles to green spaces. - Invest in eco-friendly public transportation systems and preserve urban forests. ## **Agricultural Reforms and Water Management** - Encourage the use of drought-resistant crop varieties. - Implement water-smart irrigation systems to conserve underground water reserves. ## **Energy Transition to Renewable Resources** - Invest heavily in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power projects. - Reduce reliance on fossil fuels through incentives for renewable energy adoption. ## **Corporate Accountability and Private Sector Engagement** - Introduce tax incentives for businesses that adopt sustainable practices. - Enforce corporate accountability for carbon footprints through clear regulations. ## **International Cooperation and Climate Finance** - Expand debt relief mechanisms linked to green development projects. - Enhance knowledge transfers and secure climate finance from international partners. ## **Revamping Environmental Education and Media Reporting** - Integrate comprehensive climate literacy programs into school and university curricula. - Encourage media outlets to focus on investigative and solution-based environmental journalism. ## **Community Engagement and Grassroots Movements** - Foster public participation in environmental decision-making processes. - Support local initiatives that promote sustainability and climate resilience. # **IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article**: - Pakistan is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. - The country experiences extreme weather events including heatwaves, apocalyptic floods, prolonged droughts, and severe air pollution. - Urban centers are regularly engulfed in annual smog, indicating systemic governance failures. - Rural communities are witnessing the retreat of glaciers, erratic monsoons, and the transformation of fertile lands into dust. - Dawn’s “Breathe Pakistan” campaign is a notable effort to centralize climate change in national discourse. - The editorial was published on February 6th, 2025, highlighting the urgency of environmental reforms. # **IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article**: - Climate change is positioned as a national security concern, on par with terrorism and economic stability. - The necessity for multi-stakeholder coordination, including government, industry, international partners, and local communities, is emphasized. - There is a call for a complete revolution in environmental governance to transition from symbolic gestures to binding, long-term commitments. - Investment in sustainable public transportation and green urban planning is critical to mitigate environmental degradation. # **MCQs from the Article**: ### 1. **Which of the following extreme weather events does Pakistan experience as mentioned in the article?** A. Blizzards and ice storms **B. Extreme heat, floods, and droughts** C. Tornadoes and hurricanes D. None of the above ### 2. **What campaign is highlighted in the article as an effort to bring climate change to the national conversation?** A. Clean Pakistan **B. Breathe Pakistan** C. Green Pakistan D. Save Our Planet ### 3. **According to the article, what should climate change be elevated to, alongside terrorism and economic stability?** A. A minor policy issue **B. The highest tier of national security concerns** C. A regional concern D. A temporary agenda ### 4. **Which sector is identified as both a contributor to and a casualty of climate change in Pakistan?** A. Technology B. Manufacturing **C. Agriculture** D. Tourism ### 5. **What does the article suggest should be reformed to address water depletion in agriculture?** A. Use of chemical fertilizers **B. Introduction of drought-resistant crops and water-smart irrigation systems** C. Expansion of arable land D. Increased import of food products # **VOCABULARY**: 1. **Teeters** (verb) (جھکنا): To move unsteadily or almost fall. 2. **Abyss** (noun) (گہرا خلاء): A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm. 3. **Climate-vulnerable** (adjective) (موسمی خطرے سے دوچار): Susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. 4. **Apocalyptic** (adjective) (قیامت کا): Describing events that are catastrophic or end-of-the-world in nature. 5. **Smog** (noun) (دھواں): Fog mixed with smoke and other pollutants, affecting air quality. 6. **Governance** (noun) (انتظامیہ): The processes and methods of decision-making and management of a country or organization. 7. **Proactive** (adjective) (پیش قدمی): Taking action by causing change and not only reacting to events. 8. **Resilience** (noun) (مزاحمت): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adverse conditions. 9. **Symbolic** (adjective) (علامتی): Serving as a symbol or representing something else; not literal. 10. **Non-binding** (adjective) (غیر لازم الوقوع): Not legally or officially binding or enforceable. 11. **Unprecedented** (adjective) (بے نظیر): Never done or known before; unparalleled. 12. **Stakeholders** (noun) (شریک مفاد): Individuals or groups that have an interest in a decision or outcome. 13. **Overhauling** (verb) (جامع اصلاح): To take apart in order to examine and repair if necessary; to revise thoroughly. 14. **Stringent** (adjective) (سخت): Strict, precise, and exacting in requirements. 15. **Reliance** (noun) (انحصار): Dependence on or trust in someone or something. 16. **Incentivising** (verb) (حوصلہ افزائی کرنا): Providing incentives to encourage certain behaviors or actions. 17. **Parallel** (adjective) (متوازی): Occurring at the same time or in a similar way; side by side. 18. **Renewable** (adjective) (قابل تجدید): Capable of being replaced by natural processes, such as solar or wind energy. 19. **Accountability** (noun) (جوابدہی): The obligation to explain, justify, and take responsibility for one's actions. 20. **Literacy** (noun) (سماجی شعور): The ability to read and write, extended in this context to include understanding of environmental issues. PAKISTAN teeters on the edge of an environmental abyss. Ranked among the most climate-vulnerable nations, it endures extreme heat, apocalyptic floods, prolonged droughts, and choking air pollution. The annual smog that engulfs urban centres is not merely an inconvenience — it is a broader governance failure. Meanwhile, rural communities watch helplessly as their worlds disintegrate: glaciers retreat, monsoons become erratic, and fertile lands turn to dust. Yet, climate change concerns continue to remain a footnote as politics dominates the national discourse, surfacing only when disaster strikes. A proactive approach, built on long-term resilience, is the obvious way forward. But what are we willing to do about it? Dawn’s ‘Breathe Pakistan’ campaign is one attempt to make it central to the national conversation. However, Pakistan needs much more — it needs a revolution in environmental governance. This demands unprecedented coordination among stakeholders: government bodies, industry leaders, international partners, researchers, CSOs, and communities. The time for symbolic gestures and non-binding commitments has passed. The path forward requires fundamental shifts. First, climate change must be elevated to the highest tier of national security concerns, alongside terrorism and economic stability. This means overhauling environmental protection frameworks with substantial fines for polluters, stringent emissions controls, and massive investment in public transportation. Urban planning must pivot from concrete-jungle expansion to green development, with strict preservation of remaining urban forests. Agriculture, both a casualty and a contributor to climate change, also requires urgent reform. Pakistan’s excessive reliance on water-intensive crops has depleted underground reserves. The solution lies in introducing drought-resistant crop varieties, implementing water-smart irrigation systems, and incentivising farmers to adopt climate-resilient techniques. This revolution must be supported by a parallel energy transition, leveraging our abundant renewable resources — solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. The private sector, often seen as part of the problem, must be brought into the solution. Corporate accountability on carbon footprints should be non-negotiable, with tax incentives for sustainable business practices. Pakistan’s international partners, too, have a role — debt relief mechanisms tied to green development, knowledge transfers, and climate finance must be expanded to help chart a sustainable path. Environmental education needs radical reimagining. Pakistan requires comprehensive climate literacy programmes integrated into school and university curricula. Media outlets must move beyond disaster coverage to sustained environmental journalism, investigating root causes and highlighting solutions. Change begins at the grassroots, and public participation is indispensable. Pakistan’s survival hinges on its ability to treat climate change as the defining challenge of our time. Either we act now, or we surrender to a future of escalating disasters. Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025