Climate Migration Crisis in Sindh Province, Pakistan: Displaced Families Face Uncertain Futures

Climate change-induced disasters, such as flooding, are forcing millions of people in Pakistan to leave their homes and seek refuge in cities like Karachi. This year alone, nearly 8 million people were displaced by historic flooding, with around 600,000 seeking shelter in relief camps. The impact of these disasters is not just temporary; many families, like Kashif Abro’s, are choosing not to return to their flood-ravaged lands.

Experts predict that by 2050, Pakistan could have nearly 2 million climate migrants within its borders. Climate change exacerbates existing disparities in land use and ownership, particularly in provinces like Sindh, where feudal landlords control vast agricultural areas. The effects of climate change, such as extreme temperatures and droughts, are making it increasingly difficult for small-scale farmers to maintain their crops.

As a result, many farmers are considering migrating to cities for better economic opportunities. This rural-to-urban shift is not only impacting the agricultural sector but also altering Pakistani society as people lose their sense of community. However, migrating to cities like Karachi poses its own challenges, as the infrastructure is already strained and resources are limited.

The question of how to address these displaced communities remains unanswered, as international institutions have yet to formalize a definition for climate migrants or refugees. The situation is particularly relevant in South Asia, where an estimated 18 million people have already been forced to migrate due to climate change. As countries grapple with the implications of climate-induced migration, it is clear that proactive measures are needed to support and protect these vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, the intersection of climate change, displacement, and migration is reshaping the social and economic landscape of Pakistan. As families like Kashif Abro’s navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of disasters, it is crucial for policymakers and communities to come together to address the root causes of climate-induced migration and ensure the well-being of those affected.
In 2011, Kashif Abro and his family were forced to leave their farm in Sindh province, Pakistan, due to flooding. They sought refuge in Karachi, planning to return once the water receded. However, after experiencing more flooding in 2021, Abro’s family has decided not to return to their land due to the devastation and future risks. This year’s historic flooding in Pakistan displaced nearly 8 million people, leading many to seek shelter in relief camps or migrate to cities like Karachi.

Climate change is contributing to a rise in climate migrants in Pakistan, with estimates suggesting there could be nearly 2 million by 2050. Disparities in land ownership and resource access exacerbate the vulnerability of rural communities, particularly in Sindh province. Extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves and droughts, are impacting crop yields and forcing farmers to consider migrating to cities for better opportunities.

The government’s mismanagement of irrigation resources and inadequate water infrastructure further compound the challenges faced by farmers like Abdul Sattar. As agricultural productivity declines, more people are considering moving to urban areas. This rural-to-urban shift is reshaping Pakistani society and impacting communities that have lived in the same areas for generations.

The lack of a formal definition for climate migrants or refugees complicates efforts to address the needs of displaced populations. International institutions have yet to establish clear guidelines for providing protection and support to those affected by climate change. In cities like Karachi, disaster-induced migration strains already fragile infrastructure and exacerbates issues like housing shortages and water scarcity.

For individuals like Kashif Abro, the loss of their family’s farm has forced them to adapt and seek new opportunities in urban areas. Abro is studying law in Karachi while working to cover his tuition fees, as his family’s future no longer involves earning a living from the land. The impact of climate change on agriculture and livelihoods in Pakistan is driving more people to consider migration as a means of survival and economic stability.
In Sindh province, around 240,000 people are still displaced from the floods, and land use is marked by longstanding disparities. Feudal landlords control vast agricultural areas and employ rural laborers and sharecroppers to farm and look after their lands, allotting them a small percentage of the harvest and profits. Large landholders are often politically connected, which affords them better access to canal water for irrigation and other agricultural resources. Anwar said these disparities become starker when extreme weather strikes: “The climate crisis adds yet another layer of vulnerability and dispossession.”

Land and resource limitations now overlap with climate change, affecting crop yields in agricultural communities around Sindh. Weather increasingly tends toward extremes in the province, with temperatures pushing 50 degrees Celsius (about 125 degrees Fahrenheit). Heat waves have delayed growing seasons. Before the floods this year, there was a drought. Brackish groundwater supplies, resulting from factors including over-irrigation and poor drainage systems, make it hard for small-scale farmers to maintain their crops.

Abdul Sattar, 58, a farmer who owns 75 acres of land in Tando Allahyar district, said that for many people in his area, farming has become a losing game, no matter how hard they work: “Before the floods there was a huge scarcity of water. Due to the unavailability of water, the cultivation of [some parts of the] land is not possible.” The government’s mismanagement of irrigation resources and the inadequacy of dams and other water infrastructure also plays a role in declining agricultural productivity, Sattar said.

As land becomes harder to cultivate, other farmers from Sattar’s village say their backup plan is to migrate to cities. This rural-to-urban shift is already altering Pakistani society, said Fahad Saeed, a climate scientist who has studied migration in the context of changing weather patterns. As people migrate away from the places their families have lived for generations, they lose a sense of community. “It’s taking a heavy toll, not only economically but also on the social fabric,” he said.