Section
Climate & Disasters
Floods, glaciers, heat, smog and earthquakes in one of the countries most exposed to a warming climate.
Smog returns to Punjab as Multan air quality index hits 434
Gujranwala recorded 347 and Lahore 294 as winter smog set in, with four other Punjab cities staying above 200 on the index.
Punjab crop-fire detections 4.2 times Indian Punjab's, satellite data shows
Okara, Gujranwala and Nankana Sahib alone logged more hotspots than all of Indian Punjab, as Lahore's air quality index reached 232.
Minister calls for satellite mapping of floodplains before monsoon
Climate minister tells an Islamabad space-technology conference that AI and digital modelling should back disaster planning, as UrduPoint reports an annual floodplain construction report is planned.
Clean air conference adopts compact for federal, provincial action
Gilgit-Baltistan's environmental agency was among the bodies at the two-day Islamabad meeting, which set annual reviews but published no targets.
Lahore to suspend permits, licences of smoke-emitting vehicles
Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi says 9,998 tickets have been issued to smoke-emitting vehicles and 233,476 for overloading in the current drive.
Lahore police arrest 65 in anti-smog operations, register 37 cases
UrduPoint reported the two totals but gave no locations, legal sections or details of the allegations, and no named police officer was quoted.
Toxic smog returns to Lahore as air quality hits dangerous levels
Dunya News reports a high alert over pollution in the city while The Express Tribune says the smog has returned, with neither report carrying air quality figures.
Jamshoro raid recovers 1,700 dead wild birds, five arrested
The provincial wildlife department says more than 700 of the seized birds are not considered halal, yet the meat was sold as fit for eating.
Punjab demolishes 197 brick kilns in month-long smog crackdown
The provincial EPA says it sealed 163 units and registered 162 FIRs, using drone surveillance and night squads before the winter smog season.
Lahore smog pushes AQI to 358 as outlets differ on world ranking
Daily Pakistan called Lahore the world's most polluted city while The Express Tribune ranked it third, with neither outlet's full report available.
Ahsan Iqbal calls for space-based early warning on climate shocks
UrduPoint reports the planning minister's push for satellite-based forecasting without giving the venue or text, as ISSI says experts want climate finance at the centre of COP31.
Cabinet body revives dormant Clean Environment Fund Company
The CCoSOEs, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved two ex-officio and three independent directors for the fund, to sit under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency.
Lahore second on global pollution index as Punjab smog builds
IQAir's live tracker put Lahore at AQI 199 on Monday, while Punjab EPA readings cited by the Express Tribune ranged from 35 in Nankana Sahib to 210 in Pakpattan.
Punjab sets up first orchards for trees moved by development
Three Faisalabad parks have taken in 352 of 795 identified trees, with the horticulture authority relocating the remaining 443 under 2026 transplantation rules.
Climate minister seeks joint global research on glaciers
Addressing a pre-COP31 dialogue in Islamabad, Dr Musadik Malik said mountain regions could give early warning of risks other countries will face.
Snow leopard threats grow in Gilgit-Baltistan, experts say
Separate reports point to pressure on Himalayan ibex prey in the Karakoram and to calls for stronger laws, but no official population figure was given.
Skardu students and teachers turn to creative work on climate change
An Aaj News report describes school-level activity in the district but gives no school names, participant numbers or details of the projects.
Pakistan's water crisis stems from domestic failures, report says
The report argues that Pakistan's emphasis on the Indus Water Treaty is an attempt to divert attention from internal mismanagement.
Ground broken for snow leopard research centre in Gojal
The Passu Development Organisation is building the Snow Leopard and Mountain Biodiversity and Research Centre with support from WWF-Pakistan and WWF-Italy.
Lahore traffic police seek public reports of smoke-emitting vehicles
Citizens can send videos of vehicles emitting excessive smoke via WhatsApp to 0322-5638888 for registration and action, the city traffic police said.
Pakistan picked for COP31 climate finance pilot initiative
The COP31 Presidency named Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as the first five countries for a new effort to turn climate pledges into funded projects.
Lahore Ranks Third in Global Pollution Index at 210
UrduPoint reported the city's air quality index at 210 on September 24, placing it in the very unhealthy range.
Pakistan expands protected habitat for Indus River dolphin
Mongabay reports the move offers hope for the species' recovery, while APP publishes a photo of a fisherman preparing a net on the Indus as the fishing season begins.
Sindh EPA launches integrated environmental monitoring MIS
The Sindh Integrated Environmental Monitoring Management Information System was announced by the Associated Press of Pakistan without details on cost or rollout.
Forest fire in Darel valley controlled by staff and residents
Greenpost reported that forest department personnel and local community members worked together to extinguish the blaze.
Punjab ramps up measures to curb rice residue burning
Agriculture minister says 177 control rooms are monitoring smog and 10,000 super-seeders are being subsidised for farmers.
Gilgit-Baltistan villagers graft glaciers to secure water
The ancient Gang Khswa technique involves burying 'male' and 'female' glacier fragments above 4,000 metres and waiting years for them to consolidate.
Heat cuts Punjab cotton seed germination to nearly 30 percent
Cotton Ginners Forum says high temperatures opened bolls early and threatened certified seed supply for coming season.
Super El Nino threatens Pakistan with heat, drought in 2027
Researchers project 451,000 excess heat deaths worldwide through February 2027, with Pakistan among countries facing food insecurity and extreme temperatures.
Gilgit-Baltistan forest officials join plant health talks
Details of the discussions, including venue and participants, were not immediately available, according to greenpost.com.pk.