Pakistan is among the most rapidly urbanizing countries in South Asia, with nearly 40% of its population now living in urban areas and that share growing steadily. Managing this growth sustainably, across transport, energy, land use, waste management, and consumption patterns, has emerged as a major climate and development challenge for the country. Air pollution alone costs up to 6.5% of GDP annually and contributes to over 200,000 deaths each year. Given this challenge, Pakistan is gradually shaping its supporting policy framework, including the National Clean Air Policy (2023), the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) programme under the NEV Policy 2025-30, and initiatives around sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and solid waste management being advanced under provincial environment departments and in alignment with SDG 11 and SDG 12 commitments.
However, translating these commitments into low-carbon cities remains a significant challenge. Institutional fragmentation across federal and provincial mandates, weak urban planning capacity, inadequate waste infrastructure, limited fiscal space and access to development finance continue to constrain implementation. As Pakistan's urban population continues to grow, the decisions made now will shape the long-term emissions trajectory and climate resilience of its cities for decades to come.
