Sindh proposes Climate Change Act 2025 to tackle disasters, protect victims

KARACHI: Sindh has moved towards a landmark legislative step with the introduction of the Sindh Climate Change Act 2025, which proposes the establishment of the province’s first-ever Climate Change Authority, ARY News reported.

According to reports, the bill submitted to the Assembly Secretariat by MQM-Pakistan’s MPA Najm Mirza is expected to be taken up on Private Members’ Day.

The draft suggests that the Climate Change Act 2025 will make it mandatory for the provincial government to prepare a five-year climate action plan and a carbon budget.

No development project will be approved without climate risk screening, while heatwave, flood, and drought victims will be provided legal protection under the proposed law.

The Sindh Climate Change Act 2025 also suggests declaring mangroves and coastal areas as climate-protected zones. It calls for green procurement rules, incentives for renewable energy, and the creation of a provincial Climate Justice Tribunal with powers to order rehabilitation and impose penalties.

Additionally, the Climate Change Act 2025 envisions a Climate Data Hub and a modern early warning system to strengthen disaster preparedness. Climate tagging in the provincial budget and new principles for sustainable development projects are also part of the proposed reforms.

If passed, the legislation would mark Sindh as the first province in Pakistan to implement such a comprehensive legal framework to combat climate change.

Also Read: PMD issues severe rainfall alert for Sindh, warns of urban flooding

The move comes as Pakistan is currently grappling with a catastrophic flood crisis in 2025, fueled by relentless monsoon rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outbursts. The disaster has claimed over 800 lives and affected more than 1.2 million people across multiple provinces. Entire communities have been devastated, infrastructure destroyed, and economic challenges deepened, with estimated losses potentially reaching $50 billion.