As tropical forests worldwide grapple with record heat-related mortality, Pakistan’s subtropical and temperate forests are confronting their own ecological crisis. Rapid urbanisation, unchecked deforestation, and industrial expansion—particularly across Punjab—are intensifying local heatwaves, flooding, and soil degradation. Cities like Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala are already feeling the fallout, with residents reporting unbearable summer heat, deteriorating air quality, and higher living costs.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Pakistan, the country loses nearly 11,000 hectares of forest each year, leaving only about five per cent of its land under forest cover. Punjab, the nation’s most industrialised province, has emerged as the epicentre of deforestation, where tree cutting for new housing schemes and industrial projects proceeds with minimal oversight. Field observations from Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala reveal a striking lack of enforcement and governance, with mature trees felled even in densely populated areas.
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Other provinces face similar threats. Sindh’s riverine forests are shrinking as farmland encroaches, while illegal logging continues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The resulting deforestation has eroded natural defenses against climate shocks—turning moderate rains into floods and worsening droughts in agricultural belts. Farmers in southern Punjab report soil drying faster and irrigation costs rising as canopy cover disappears.
The disappearance of trees has also contributed to the “urban heat island” effect. Streets once shaded by Neem and Peepal trees now radiate heat late into the night. In 2025, Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad repeatedly crossed 45°C, straining healthcare systems and driving up electricity use. Environmental experts warn that without urgent intervention, urban heat, flooding, and declining agricultural productivity will continue to erode Pakistan’s economic resilience.
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The report calls for stronger regulatory enforcement, mandatory green zoning, and incentives like carbon credits to encourage sustainable forest management. Experts stress that reversing the damage will require institutional accountability and integrating ecological safeguards into all urban planning and development frameworks.