The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 has been criticized for failing to address the pressing issue of climate change. Despite the country’s vulnerability to climate change, which could reduce GDP by 20% by 2050, the Survey treats climate change as a peripheral concern. The current framework isolates climate change in a separate chapter, rendering the Survey’s conclusions unreliable for long-term planning. The Survey’s treatment of agriculture, manufacturing, and energy sectors illustrates this “climate blindness,” failing to consider the impact of climate change on these sectors.
The Survey excludes climate analyses across all chapters, reducing its utility for evidence-based policymaking. Climate integration can eliminate the separation between environmental and economic analyses, providing a comprehensive assessment of climate-economy interactions. The writer argues that the Survey should be transformed to incorporate climate considerations across all chapters, using standardized risk assessment methodologies and impact quantification protocols. This would enable policymakers to understand the economic implications of climate change and make informed decisions to build resilience and promote sustainable development.