Introduction
Debt servicing, defence expenditure, pensions and limited revenue mobilisation constrain Pakistan’s investment in climate resilience. The FY2026–27 federal budget totals Rs18.771 trillion, including Rs8.054 trillion for interest payments, Rs3 trillion for defence and Rs1.169 trillion for pensions. Within the climate-tagging framework, adaptation receives Rs70.462 billion, mitigation Rs124.067 billion and supporting areas Rs19.490 billion. Adaptation funding falls 17.5 per cent from FY2025–26, while disaster-related allocations for preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction more than double to Rs116.238 billion.[1]
Mitigation reduces emissions; adaptation limits harm from climate impacts. Both matter, but Pakistan’s exposure to floods, heatwaves, drought, glacial lake outburst floods and water stress makes adaptation an immediate development priority. Pakistan’s NDC 3.0 places its share of global greenhouse-gas emissions at about 1 per cent.[2] The National Adaptation Plan estimates adaptation and resilience investment needs of US$152 billion during 2023–2030, far beyond what the federal budget alone can provide.[3]
