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ISLAMABAD: Natural disasters cost Pakistan an estimated 1–2 percent of its gross domestic product each year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this week, warning that conflict, militancy and the country’s role as a major refugee host are compounding the strain on its economy and public services.

Pakistan, one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting nations, has faced decades of economic and social pressure linked to displacement from neighboring Afghanistan, ongoing militancy in border regions, and repeated climate-related disasters. Agriculture, which employs over a third of the workforce, is particularly exposed, with climate-linked disruptions threatening food security and rural livelihoods.

“The economic toll of these vulnerabilities is significant, with natural disasters estimated to cost Pakistan 1–2 percent of its GDP each year,” OCHA said in its latest assessment.

The agency noted that agriculture contributes 19 percent of the economy, yet faces severe losses during floods, droughts and other climate shocks. These factors, it said, deepen rural poverty, widen inequality and slow development, particularly in underserved areas.

Public resources intended for education, health care and infrastructure are often reallocated to crisis management, “resulting in developmental lags and unmet social needs,” OCHA said, calling for disaster risk reduction, stronger early warning systems and investment in community-level resilience.

In 2022, catastrophic monsoon flooding killed around 1,739 people and inflicted approximately $30 billion in damages, one of the world’s costliest climate disasters. 

Since late June this year, more than 300 people have been killed due to flash floods, landslides, and rain‑related incidents in different parts of Pakistan. The World Weather Attribution study found these floods were 10–15 percent more intense due to human-induced climate change.

Glacial lake outbursts and flash floods in mountainous regions, including Gilgit‑Baltistan and Swat Valley, have also produced devastating landslides and casualties. Climate-fueled glacier melt and intensified monsoon rains are to blame, experts say. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed this week condemned the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, calling for the protection of navigation routes and greater maritime cooperation worldwide.

Ahmed was speaking at the UN Security Council open debate on ‘Maritime Security: Prevention, Innovation, and International Cooperation to Address Emerging Challenges’ on Monday. During the meeting, the Red Sea attacks from last month came under discussion. Washington accused Iran of fueling maritime insecurity in the Red Sea by supplying weapons and other materials to the Houthis.

Washington’s acting ambassador, Dorothy Shea, condemned the Houthis for the recent attacks in the Red Sea that resulted in the sinking of two commercial ships, the deaths of crew members and the taking of hostages.

According to international news agency Reuters, Houthis have targeted more than 100 merchant ships traveling through the Red Sea since November 2023, sinking four vessels, seizing another and killing at least eight sailors.

“Attacks on commercial shipping undermine maritime security and global trade,” Ahmed said at the debate. “We condemn such acts, including the recent Red Sea incidents, and support the Secretary-General’s call for restraint, and protection of navigation routes.”

The Pakistani envoy said, without naming any countries, that attempts to dominate maritime spaces or marginalize coastal states must be rejected, labeling them as “counterproductive.” He said oceans must remain zones of peace, prosperity, and inclusive development.

Ahmed said Pakistan regards the Arabian Sea as its “fifth neighbor“— a cornerstone of the country’s economic ambition and strategic horizon.

“Positioned at the junction of vital sea lanes, Pakistan is uniquely placed to serve as a premier trans-shipment hub and the primary gateway linking the landlocked heart of Central Asia with the global trading system,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy pointed out that Islamabad remains a longstanding, active contributor to international maritime security. He said the country’s navy participates in the Combined Maritime Forces Task Forces 150 and 151, and conducts regular Regional Maritime Security Patrols to ensure safe and secure seas.

Ahmed said Pakistan also takes pride in regularly hosting the multinational Exercise AMAN in Karachi, which is one of the largest naval gatherings in the region.

“The 9th edition of AMAN held in February this year, brought together over 60 navies from across the world in a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to cooperative security at sea,” he said.

Ahmed said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring and analytics are transforming maritime security but are also posing certain cyber weaponization and inequality risks. He stressed the need to develop these technologies responsibly, with equitable access and safeguards.

“Pakistan stands ready to work with all countries to safeguard the maritime domain, uphold international law, and ensure our oceans remain open, peaceful, and shared for the benefit of all humankind,” Ahmed concluded.