BARCELONA: The growing impacts of climate change have already pushed more than 18 million people to migrate within South Asian countries, but that could more than triple in countries like Pakistan if global warming continues on its current path, researchers have warned.
Nearly 63 million people could be forced from their homes by 2050 in the region as rising seas and rivers swallow villages, and drought-hit land no longer supports crops, said ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia in a report.
The projection does not include those who will be forced to flee sudden disasters such as floods and cyclones and so is likely an under-estimate, noted Harjeet Singh, global climate lead at ActionAid.
He said the situation could become “catastrophic”.
Many will head from rural areas to towns and cities in their own countries, in search of work, he said.
There they often end up living in slum areas exposed to flooding and with very limited access to social services, doing precarious jobs such as rickshaw-pulling, construction or garment-making.
“Policy makers in the Global North and the Global South are not yet waking up to this reality,” Singh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “They are not realizing the scale of the problem, and how we are going to deal with (it).”
He urged rich nations with high planet-warming emissions to redouble efforts to reduce their carbon pollution and provide more funding for South Asian countries to develop cleanly and adapt to conditions on a warming planet.
If governments meet a globally agreed goal to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, the number of people driven to move in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal could be cut almost by half by 2050, the report said.
It builds on research published in 2018 by the World Bank, which said unchecked climate change could cause more than 140 million people to move within their countries’ borders by 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
The new report, which used an updated version of the same methodology, raises the original 2050 projection for South Asian migration by about half, adding in new data on sea level rise, as well as the effects of ecosystem losses and droughts.
The new report also tracks expected migration on a finer scale.
PREPARING FOR MOVEMENT
The projections have financial implications for countries such as India and Bangladesh, where the poorest people often lack the means to move far from their original homes to safer places without state support.
The new figures show the largest number of people are expected to migrate by 2050 in India, at more than 45 million.
But the country with the sharpest projected rise in migration is Bangladesh, with a seven-fold increase from today.
The report included examples collected by aid workers of people who have already been hit by worsening climate pressures.
In Pakistan’s arid Tharparkar district, Rajo, 37, and her husband, both laborers, moved to three different places in their area in the last three years to escape hunger caused by severe drought.
She lost a baby because of heavy lifting in her job and had to borrow money from the landowner to cover medical bills for her family, she told the researchers.
Kabita Maity, from an island in the Sundarbans delta region of India, has had to move five times as previous homes were gobbled up by the sea.
“We will have to stay here until the sea forces us out, as we do not have resources to buy land and resettle inwards,” Maity was quoted as saying.
The report called on South Asian governments to do more to prepare for worsening displacement linked to climate change — and emphasised the importance of acting now to limit the number of people who will be forced to migrate in the future.
It recommended strengthening social protection systems to provide cash and work for those affected by climate extremes and improving essential services for migrant workers in cities — now hit doubly by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many left jobless.
Measures that can help prevent “distress migration” include promoting farming methods that keep soils in good condition, managing water more efficiently, improving access to markets or trying new crops and ways to earn money, the report noted.
Where people are relocated, authorities need to ensure the land is safe and fertile, tenure rights are secure and people have enough money to build new homes, it added.
Sanjay Vashist, director of Climate Action Network South Asia, said tackling poverty and inequality also needed to be part of regional responses to climate migration.
“South Asian leaders must join forces and prepare plans for the protection of displaced people,” he said in a statement.
Climate change could create millions of migrants in Pakistan by 2050
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Climate change could create millions of migrants in Pakistan by 2050
- Nearly 63 million people in South Asia could be forced from their homes by 2050
- Largest number of people are expected to migrate by 2050 in India, at more than 45 million
Pakistan’s T20 league kicks off in Rawalpindi with a glittering opening ceremony
- Fans filled the stadium for musical performances ahead of Islamabad-Lahore opener
- PCB begins offering Urdu commentary on streaming platforms to expand outreach
ISLAMABAD: The 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) began on Friday with a vibrant opening ceremony in Rawalpindi, as fans packed the stadium for a night of music and cricket ahead of the tournament opener between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.
The glitzy launch featured performances by major Pakistani artists including Abida Parveen, Ali Zafar, Abrar-ul-Haq, Natasha Baig and the Young Stunners, marking the first time the PSL’s opening event was held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
“The stage is set — now we’re just waiting for you!” the official PSL account posted on X, calling the event “a celebration of cricket” as the season got underway.
Islamabad United, three-time champions, won the toss and opted to field against defending champions Lahore Qalandars in the first match of the 34-game tournament.
The six-team competition will continue through May 18, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore and Multan.
In a move to broaden accessibility, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to provide full-match Urdu commentary on various streaming platforms, aiming to reach more than 75 million users nationwide.
PCB CEO Salman Naseer said the initiative would help extend the PSL’s reach to a wider audience, describing the 10th season as a milestone in the league’s journey.
Launched in 2016, the PSL has grown into Pakistan’s premier domestic T20 competition.
The league is expected to expand from six to eight teams after the 2025 edition, as part of its long-term development plan.
Pakistan PM ends ‘monumental’ Belarus visit as both sides sign defense, trade and environmental pacts
- Shehbaz Sharif says Belarus will welcome over 150,000 skilled Pakistani workers for ‘nation-building’
- He also calls for a direct air link between both countries along with deeper mining and agricultural ties
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday concluded what he called a “monumental” two-day visit to Belarus, during which both countries signed a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at boosting cooperation in defense, commerce, environmental protection and other key sectors.
Sharif held talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk to review bilateral ties, as delegation-level talks were also held between the two sides encompassing discussions on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues.
According to state media, Pakistan and Belarus signed a cooperation accord between their interior ministries along with a roadmap for military-technical collaboration between 2025 and 2027.
Agreements were also inked on defense cooperation, environmental protection, postal services, trade development, business support and coordination between trade bodies, the Associated Press of Pakistan said.
“A monumental day in Pakistan-Belarus ties,” Sharif said in a post on social media while sharing details of his visit.
“Highlights of our talks included the agreement to send over 150,000 highly skilled Pakistani workers to contribute to nation-building efforts in Belarus; enhanced cooperation in agriculture and food security; and potential joint ventures in the manufacturing of electric buses and agricultural machinery — steps that will help transform our enduring bond of friendship into a lasting partnership.”
Pakistan has in recent months intensified efforts to expand economic cooperation with a number of countries in and around the region, aiming to leverage its location as a transit hub for trade and earn foreign exchange.
Addressing a ceremony in Minsk, Sharif said Belarus was a leader in equipment manufacturing for the mining sector and Pakistan stood to gain from closer industrial cooperation.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t benefit from your experience,” he continued, pointing to Pakistan’s vast mineral resources.
He also emphasized the value of establishing a direct air link between the two countries and thanked Lukashenko for his willingness to welcome skilled Pakistani labor.
Sharif also spoke of strengthening Pakistan’s agriculture sector with mutual cooperation, saying 65 percent of the country’s population lived in rural areas.
“We need your expertise,” he said. “We need to have joint ventures between Belarus and Pakistani companies to manufacture agricultural equipment in Pakistan so we can offer to the farmers at very economical rates, both companies from Belarus and Pakistan, they will have win-win situation.”
In recent years, trade between Belarus and Pakistan has ranged from $50 to 65 million annually, though recent official visits have raised hopes for increased commercial exchange.
Later, Sharif met with Belarusian parliamentary leaders and agreed to deepen inter-legislative cooperation.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has concluded his two-day official visit to Belarus and left for home,” the Government of Pakistan said in a social media post toward the end of the day. “He was seen off at Minsk International Airport by Prime Minister Alexander Turchin, Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov and officials of the Pakistani embassy.”
US education body urges Pakistani students to choose American universities amid visa concerns
- USEFP says Pakistani students currently in the US will complete their education, continue to receive stipends
- It says several US government-funded programs, including the Fulbright scholarship, still remain in place
ISLAMABAD: The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) said on Friday it encouraged Pakistani students to choose American universities, adding that US-funded exchange programs, including the Fulbright scholarship, remained operational despite broader aid cuts under President Donald Trump.
The statement comes amid rising concern over the cancelation of student visas in the US, which has led to the abrupt departure of hundreds of international students.
Some universities reported that students were asked to leave immediately after learning, in some cases via text or email, that their visas had been revoked.
Several social media posts suggested recently Pakistani students were among those affected, prompting the country’s foreign office to say a day earlier it was seeking details from its missions in the US and would offer assistance to those impacted.
“The United States and USEFP remain committed to promoting the strong and enduring people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan,” USEFP said in a statement. “The United States proudly hosts 11,000 Pakistani students at US universities, and we encourage Pakistanis to continue to choose the United States for higher education opportunities.”
The organization clarified that 54 Pakistani students currently studying in the US under the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program would complete their education as planned and continue receiving stipends and related benefits.
“A number of US Government-funded exchange programs remain in place and are available to Pakistanis, including the Fulbright Program,” the statement added. “Fulbright participants in the United States continue to receive their stipends. Assertions that the Fulbright Program has been terminated or that students will be left stranded in the United States are false.”
However, USEFP said the US Department of State was conducting a global review of exchange programs to align them more closely with the new administration’s priorities and would share updates as available.
UN to cut 20 percent of humanitarian staff amid funding shortfall, scale back operations in Pakistan
UN to cut 20 percent of humanitarian staff amid funding shortfall, scale back operations in Pakistan
- UN aid chief Tom Fletcher cites a $58 million shortfall after major funding cuts by the US
- Fletcher says the agency will focus its resources by operating in fewer locations than before
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will cut 20 percent of its staff as it faces a shortfall of $58 million, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher has told staff after OCHA’s largest donor — the United States — cut funding.
“OCHA currently has a workforce of around 2,600 staff in over 60 countries. The funding shortfall means we are looking to regroup to an organization of around 2,100 staff in fewer locations,” Fletcher wrote in a note to staff on Thursday.
OCHA works to mobilize aid, share information, support aid efforts, and advocate for those in need during a crisis. It relies heavily on voluntary contributions.
“The US alone has been the largest humanitarian donor for decades, and the biggest contributor to OCHA’s program budget,” Fletcher said, noting that its annual contribution of $63 million would have accounted for 20 percent of OCHA’s extrabudgetary resources in 2025.
Since returning to office in January for a second term, US President Donald Trump’s administration has slashed billions of dollars in foreign assistance in a review that aimed to ensure programs align with his “America First” foreign policy.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month announced a new initiative to improve efficiency and cut costs as the world body turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis.
Fletcher said OCHA would “focus more of our resources in the countries where we work,” but would work in fewer places.
“OCHA will scale back our presence and operations in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Gaziantep (in Turkiye) and Zimbabwe,” Fletcher said.
“As we all know, these exercises are driven by funding cuts announced by Member States and not by a reduction of needs,” he said. “Humanitarian needs are on the rise and have perhaps never been higher, driven by conflicts, climate crises, disease, and the lack of respect of international humanitarian law.”
Thousands rally across Pakistan against Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, urge Muslim states to act
- Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s key religio-political party, called the protest across Pakistan
- JI chief urges building a strong pro-Palestine movement and preparing for a nationwide strike
KARACHI: Thousands of supporters of a prominent Pakistani religio-political party poured into the streets of Lahore and other major cities on Friday to protest Israel’s military strikes in Gaza, with their leaders demanding urgent action from Muslim states to stop the bloodshed.
The call for nationwide demonstrations came from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) after intensified conflict in Gaza, which began in October 2023. International efforts for a ceasefire have not held, with reports indicating the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 50,000, with a significant number of women and children among the casualties.
Pakistan has long advocated for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital and does not recognize Israel.
Addressing a large gathering in Lahore, the JI chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, urged Muslim leaders to get united.
“Liberating this occupied land is the duty of every Muslim,” he said. “When our paths are blocked [as individuals], it becomes the responsibility of [Muslim] rulers and their armies. Even a small step forward can lead to a ceasefire.”
In his speech, Rehman emphasized the historical and ideological connections between Pakistan and Palestine, remembering how his country's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made them clear.
“When Israel was imposed as an illegitimate entity [over Palestinian territory and people] in 1948, Quaid-e-Azam [Jinnah] said that Israel was the illegitimate child of the West, a tool created for their use,” he continued.
The JI chief also highlighted the engagement of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet-philosopher, with the Palestinian issue, mentioning his attendance at a conference in Palestine in 1931.
“That is the foundation of Pakistan’s connection with Palestine, and it was a stated policy of our country that we promised never to recognize Israel,” he added. “So, if anyone talks about a two-state solution, or speaks in favor of Israel in secrecy, we want to make it clear that there is only one state — the state of Palestine — and it is under occupation.”
Rehman called for sustained public pressure on governments around the world, hoping it would force them to address the issue.
“Pressurize your government through public protest,” he said. “Protests have erupted in Bangladesh, in India and across Europe and America — people are rising. Don’t let this flame of resistance die. Be ready for the struggle.”
He maintained he would consult religious scholars and speak with other parties to unite for a powerful movement.
“We are already in communication with the Palestinian leadership. One day, we will call for a complete nationwide strike across Pakistan,” he said, appealing to traders and the general public to prepare for future mobilization and boycott of Israeli and Western products.
“We do not stand with the oppressors,” he continued. “The Palestinian resistance is legitimate under the UN Charter.”
Meanwhile, in Karachi, hundreds gathered outside the Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighborhood, where the city’s JI chief, Munem Zafar, addressed the protesters.
“The massacre in Gaza continues unabated. Zionist forces are committing genocide. Over 60,000 people have been martyred in the last 18 months,” he said, adding that 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure had been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.
Zafar announced a “Solidarity with Gaza March” to be held in Karachi on April 13 along Sharah-e-Faisal, to be led by Rehman, the party’s central chief.
“We want to awaken the conscience of the Muslim rulers,” he said. “We urge families — children, elders, women — to join in large numbers.”
The party also called for a boycott of goods produced by companies supporting Israel.
Hundreds of protests were also held outside various mosques after the Friday prayer congregations in Karachi and other Pakistani cities on JI’s call.
