# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article "Climate economy survey" by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Published in Dawn on June 19th, 2025:* The article critiques the *Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25* for failing to address the nation's most pressing existential challenge: *climate change*. Despite Pakistan being among the world's most *climate-vulnerable* and *least-prepared countries*, facing threats that could reduce *GDP by 20%* by *2050*, the Survey treats *climate change* as a peripheral concern rather than the central organizing principle of economic policy. The author argues that the Survey should be a *'Barometer of change'* and integrate *climate considerations* across all *17 chapters* instead of having a stand-alone *Chapter 17* on climate. The current framework represents *climate-blind economic analysis* by isolating climate change as a separate section detached from primary economic analysis, rendering the Survey's conclusions unreliable for long-term planning. While documenting *GDP growth of 2.68%* and fiscal improvements, it ignores that the *2022 floods* costing *$30 billion* exceeded the entire annual development budget by *five to six times*. The Survey's treatment of *agriculture* illustrates this climate blindness, reporting major declines of *cotton*, *wheat*, and *maize* as statistical anomalies rather than manifestations of climate vulnerability. The author identifies multiple *climate integration deficiencies* across chapters: *'Growth and Investment'* lacks climate-adjusted GDP calculations; *'Agriculture'* excludes climate variables like temperature, precipitation, and glacial melt trends; *'Manufacturing and mining'* lacks industrial climate risk assessment; *'Fiscal development'* excludes climate budget analyses despite implementing a *climate budget tagging system* across *5,000 federal cost centres*; *'Energy'* lacks restructuring around renewable energy development; *'Trade and payments'* lacks analysis of export vulnerability to climate policies; *'Population, Labour Force and Employment'* excludes women's vulnerability to climate impacts; *'Health and nutrition'* lacks climate health impact assessment; and *'Social protection'* lacks climate vulnerability assessment for existing programmes. The exclusion of climate considerations reflects institutional capacity gaps. The author proposes *enhanced climate integration* to eliminate artificial separation between environmental and economic analyses, requiring standardized risk assessment methodologies and impact quantification protocols across government departments. The Survey is released too late to inform the annual finance bill debate and suffers from persistent data reliability issues, particularly provisional agricultural estimates published before harvest completion. The author suggests releasing the Survey on a *quarterly basis* with enhanced data collection infrastructure integrating climate monitoring with economic analyses to transform it from a retrospective document into a dynamic policy tool for evidence-based climate governance. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: The *Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25* fails to integrate *climate change* considerations across its *17 chapters*, treating it as peripheral despite Pakistan being highly *climate-vulnerable* with potential *20% GDP reduction* by *2050*. The *2022 floods* cost *$30 billion*, exceeding the development budget by *5-6 times*, yet climate remains marginalized. The Survey exhibits *climate-blind analysis* in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, trade, and social sectors. The author proposes transforming the Survey into a *climate-integrated* document with *quarterly releases* and real-time monitoring to serve as a foundation for evidence-based climate governance rather than treating climate as an isolated *Chapter 17* issue. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Integrate Climate Across All Chapters* Embed *climate considerations* in all *17 chapters* instead of isolating them in a separate climate chapter. ## *2. Develop Climate-Adjusted GDP Metrics* Create *climate-adjusted GDP calculations* that account for climate damage and resilience investment needs. ## *3. Implement Real-Time Climate Monitoring* Establish enhanced *data collection infrastructure* integrating climate monitoring with economic analyses. ## *4. Create Climate Budget Framework* Expand the existing *climate budget tagging system* across all government departments and analyze effectiveness. ## *5. Establish Climate Risk Assessment* Develop standardized *climate risk assessment methodologies* for all sectors and infrastructure projects. ## *6. Release Quarterly Climate-Economy Reports* Transform the Survey from annual to *quarterly releases* for timely policy guidance. ## *7. Integrate Climate-Agriculture Analysis* Include *temperature*, *precipitation*, and *glacial melt trends* in agricultural sector analysis. ## *8. Assess Industrial Climate Vulnerabilities* Conduct comprehensive *industrial climate risk assessments* including supply chain vulnerabilities. ## *9. Develop Climate-Health Integration* Create *climate health impact assessments* and early warning systems for disease surveillance. ## *10. Build Climate-Social Protection Links* Integrate *climate vulnerability assessments* into social protection programme design and targeting. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - Pakistan faces potential *GDP reduction of 20%* by *2050* due to climate change. - *Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25* documented *GDP growth of 2.68%*. - *2022 floods* cost *$30 billion*, exceeding annual development budget by *5-6 times*. - Survey has *17 chapters* with climate change isolated in *Chapter 17*. - Government implements *climate budget tagging system* across *5,000 federal cost centres*. - Major declines reported in *cotton*, *wheat*, and *maize* production. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - Pakistan ranks *8th* among most climate-vulnerable countries globally (*Climate Risk Index*, 2024). - *Indus River* flow may decrease by *30-40%* by *2050* (*World Bank*, 2024). - Climate change could affect *43 million* people in Pakistan by *2050* (*UNDP*, 2024). - Pakistan's *climate finance gap* is estimated at *$7-14 billion* annually (*Green Climate Fund*, 2024). - *Agricultural sector* contributes *22.9%* to GDP and employs *37.4%* of workforce (*PBS*, 2024). - Pakistan emits only *0.9%* of global greenhouse gases (*UNFCCC*, 2024). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *What percentage of GDP could climate change reduce by 2050?* A. 15% *B. 20%* C. 25% D. 30% ### 2. *How much did the 2022 floods cost Pakistan?* A. $20 billion *B. $30 billion* C. $40 billion D. $50 billion ### 3. *In which chapter is climate change currently isolated in the Survey?* A. Chapter 15 *B. Chapter 17* C. Chapter 16 D. Chapter 18 ### 4. *How many federal cost centres have climate budget tagging system?* A. 3,000 *B. 5,000* C. 7,000 D. 10,000 ### 5. *What GDP growth rate did the Survey document for 2024-25?* A. 2.58% *B. 2.68%* C. 2.78% D. 2.88% # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Existential* (وجودی) – Relating to existence or survival 2. *Vulnerable* (کمزور) – Susceptible to harm or damage 3. *Peripheral* (حاشیہ پر) – On the edge or margin; not central 4. *Paradigm* (نمونہ) – A typical example or pattern 5. *Barometer* (پیمائشی آلہ) – An instrument for measuring; indicator 6. *Manifestations* (مظاہر) – Signs or evidence of something 7. *Econometrics* (اقتصادی پیمائش) – Statistical analysis of economic data 8. *Multiplier* (ضارب) – Factor that amplifies an effect 9. *Resilience* (لچک) – Ability to recover from difficulties 10. *Liabilities* (ذمہ داریاں) – Debts or obligations 11. *Hydrological* (آب شناسی) – Related to water systems 12. *Taxonomy* (درجہ بندی) – Classification system 13. *Surveillance* (نگرانی) – Close observation or monitoring 14. *Provisional* (عارضی) – Temporary or preliminary 15. *Retrospective* (ماضی کی طرف) – Looking back at past events 16. *Dynamic* (متحرک) – Constantly changing or active 17. *Infrastructure* (بنیادی ڈھانچہ) – Basic physical structures 18. *Protocols* (طریقہ کار) – Formal procedures or rules 19. *Institutional* (ادارہ جاتی) – Related to institutions or organizations 20. *Integration* (انضمام) – Combining parts into a whole 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. Please be reminded not to remove the attribution label affixed to this article. It is crucial to acknowledge the source and the effort invested in creating this summary. We discourage any unauthorized distribution without proper credit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 🔍 ⚡ *Explore More Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings* 💡 Join our WhatsApp Channel for timely and comprehensive summaries of the latest articles, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) --- *www.dawn.com* *Climate economy survey* *Ali Tauqeer Sheikh* *7–9 minutes* THE Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 has failed to address our most pressing existential challenge: climate change. Despite this nation's inclusion among the world's most climate-vulnerable and least-prepared countries, and one that is facing threats that could reduce GDP by 20 per cent by 2050, the Survey treats climate change as a peripheral concern rather than the central organising principle of economic policy. I have argued previously on these pages that the Survey can be a 'Barometer of change' and integrate climate considerations across all 17 chapters instead of having a stand-alone chapter on the climate. This transformation would represent a paradigm shift towards climate-informed economic governance. Climate-blind economic analysis: The current framework isolates climate change in Chapter 17 as a separate section detached from primary economic analysis, rendering the Survey's conclusions unreliable for long-term planning. The Survey exemplifies the dangerous disconnect between economic analysis and climate reality. While documenting a GDP growth of 2.68pc and fiscal improvements, it ignores that the 2022 floods costing $30 billion exceeded our entire annual development budget by five to six times, yet climate considerations remain marginal. Its treatment of agriculture illustrates this climate blindness, reporting major declines of cotton, wheat and maize as statistical anomalies rather than manifestations of climate vulnerability. This analytical failure prevents policymakers from understanding the fact that traditional econometrics become meaningless when climatic stability assumptions no longer hold. Climate integration can eliminate the separation between environmental and economic analyses. Climate integration deficiencies: The Survey excludes climate analyses across all chapters, reducing its utility for evidence-based policymaking. The current structure does not treat climate change as an economic multiplier affecting all sectors. The 'Growth and Investment' chapter lacks climate-adjusted GDP calculations that account for climate-triggered damage and resilience investment needs. Traditional growth metrics fail to distinguish between growth that builds long-term resilience versus growth that creates climate liabilities. Investment analyses exclude climate risk assessment for major infrastructure projects, with climate-proofing costs absent from evaluation criteria. Incorporating climate-resilient investment frameworks would provide more accurate assessments. 'Agriculture' excludes the integration of climate variables including temperature, precipitation and glacial melt trends on irrigation water availability. The Indus basin irrigation system is facing rapid disruption from hydrological changes that receive inadequate monitoring. Crop yield analyses do not incorporate climate projections for assessing food security implications. Future surveys should address these gaps. 'Manufacturing and mining' lacks industrial climate risk assessment covering supply chain vulnerabilities and adaptation costs for industrial infrastructure. Export competitiveness analyses exclude looming carbon border mechanisms, and green technology adoption needs. The industrial productivity analysis does not incorporate climate-related disruptions, including yearly heatwaves. Including these components would improve industrial policy relevance. 'Fiscal development' excludes climate budget analyses despite the government implementing a climate budget tagging system across 5,000 federal cost centres, mentioned only superficially in the climate chapter. It lacks green taxonomy frameworks and provides no evaluation of climate-informed taxation effectiveness in promoting adaptation investments. Disaster risk financing mechanisms are inadequately analysed. Public debt sustainability narrative excludes climate stress scenarios, limiting fiscal policy effectiveness. The chapter on 'Energy' lacks restructuring around renewable energy development and grid modernisation analyses and overlooks hydro energy security considerations under changing climate scenarios. Carbon footprint assessment and reduction strategies to meet NDC commitments receive inadequate analysis. Comprehensive energy-climate analyses can enhance policy relevance. 'Trade and payments' lacks analysis of export vulnerability to climate policies and excludes identification of climate-resilient value chain development opportunities. Green trade and sustainable export possibilities are not evaluated for enhancing our competitive position in carbon-constrained global markets. 'Population, Labour Force and Employment' excludes women's vulnerability to climate impacts and green economy opportunities, climate-induced migration patterns and labour market impact analyses. The gender dimensions of climate change and economic participation are not assessed. Youth employment in climate sectors receives no serious analysis. Addressing employment-climate linkages can enhance labour policy effectiveness. 'Health and nutrition' lacks a climate health impact assessment and excludes an analysis of disease surveillance and climate-health early warning systems effectiveness. Nutrition security under climate stress receives inadequate evaluation. Healthcare system resilience and emergency preparedness capabilities remain unassessed. Health-climate integration could improve public health policy formulation. 'Social protection' lacks a climate vulnerability assessment for existing programmes while excluding an analysis of programme effectiveness in building household resilience to climate shocks. Targeting mechanisms are not evaluated for reaching climate-vulnerable populations. Programme design modifications to address climate-induced poverty have invited no analysis. Climate-social protection integration can enhance programme effectiveness. The exclusion of climate considerations across the Survey reflects institutional capacity gaps. Climate integration can eliminate the artificial separation between environmental and economic analyses while providing a comprehensive assessment of climate-economy interactions. Climate integration requires standardised risk assessment methodologies and impact quantification protocols across government departments. Enhanced climate integration: The Survey is released too late to inform the debate on the annual finance bill. Its persistent data reliability issues, particularly provisional agricultural estimates published before harvest completion, exemplify the need for real-time climate monitoring capabilities. Ideally, the Survey should be released on a quarterly basis. Enhanced data collection infrastructure integrating climate monitoring with economic analyses can transform the Survey from a retrospective document into a dynamic policy tool. Such a transformation will represent an essential evolution for a nation facing existential climate threats, positioning Pakistan's flagship publication as a foundation for evidence-based climate governance. The writer is a climate change and sustainable development expert. Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2025