Green tokenism

Pakistan’s FY26 climate budget seems to be a textbook case of putting lipstick on a pig. While the government drums up noise about green initiatives, the truth is it’s cutting corners with token measures disguised as climate action. Imposing a carbon levy of Rs2.5 per litre on petrol and taxing imported solar panels sounds like a green push, but in practice, it’s a kick in the teeth for the poor and a spanner in the works for clean energy adoption. Coal plants still chew through public funds while projects meant to actually help people adapt to climate change get crumbs. What’s more alarming is that only 10 percent of the climate budget is set aside for adaptation—this in a country that reels from climate disasters like deadly floods and glacier outbursts every year. Tragedies like the drowning of 18 tourists in Swat serve as chilling reminders that mitigation-heavy policies are turning a blind eye to the urgency of ground-level realities.

The government seems to be barking up the wrong tree by prioritising long-term, flashy projects instead of people-centric adaptation efforts. It still hasn’t followed through on its promise of a climate authority, leaving crucial decisions stuck in limbo. There’s a dire need to shift from politically convenient optics to science-backed policies that empower local communities, from farmers to forest dwellers. Climate budgeting shouldn’t just be about ticking boxes; it must be about building resilience. As things stand, Pakistan’s climate governance is neither here nor there but trapped between hollow rhetoric and half-hearted execution. This article calls for genuine leadership, strong legislation and smarter investment if Pakistan wants to stop chasing its tail and finally stand on firm ground in its climate fight.

Overview:

This article sharply criticises Pakistan’s FY26 climate budget, labelling it as symbolic and ineffective in addressing real-time climate challenges. While the budget brands itself as climate-responsive, its main focus lies in long-term mitigation, ignoring the immediate need for adaptation. It highlights the disproportionate funding allocated to mega infrastructure and coal projects instead of community-level climate resilience. The piece also exposes the contradiction of taxing solar imports while subsidising polluting sectors and laments the absence of promised institutions like the climate authority.

NOTES:

This article is one of the essential resource for understanding climate governance challenges in Pakistan. It touches topics such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, energy policies, public budgeting, environmental justice and governance. Aspirants can extract policy critique, governance flaws and real-world examples of misallocation of climate funds. The article provides data-driven insights and critical perspectives which are ideal for developing analytical depth in written responses.

Relevant CSS Syllabus Subjects:

• Environmental Science – The article highlights Pakistan’s climate governance, carbon taxation, renewable energy transition, and climate justice, which fall under climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Pakistan Affairs – It discusses the national budget priorities, the socio-economic impact of climate policies, and institutional failures such as the lack of a functional Climate Change Authority.
• Governance and Public Policy – It critiques the inefficiency, tokenism, and lack of effective climate legislation and enforcement, tying into public sector reform and accountability.
• Current Affairs – The editorial connects budgetary allocations with real-time climate challenges, like the Swat River incident and flood recovery, making it relevant to contemporary policy analysis.
• International Relations – Concepts like climate justice, carbon levies, and commitments to international climate frameworks link this article with global environmental diplomacy and negotiations.

Notes for Beginners:

This article shows how governments sometimes make policies that look good on paper but don’t help in real life. For example, taxing solar panels discourages clean energy even though we claim to support it. The Rs2.5/litre carbon tax is supposed to reduce pollution but ends up hurting low-income groups who depend on petrol. Only 10 percent of the climate budget is being used for immediate protection like flood safety, even though disasters like the Swat River drowning have shown how urgent adaptation is. The focus remains on long-term projects like dams while poor communities remain exposed. Understanding the difference between mitigation (like building a dam) and adaptation (like providing early warning systems for floods) is important.

Facts and Figures:

• Only 10 percent of FY26’s climate budget is dedicated to adaptation
• A Rs2.5 per litre carbon tax imposed on petrol
• Tax added on imported solar panels
• Coal plants continue to receive government support
• 18 tourists drowned in Swat River due to a sudden surge in water
• Climate authority still not established as promised
• Massive dams and motorways still prioritised in climate allocation

To sum up, this article exposes the gap between Pakistan’s climate narrative and its real actions. It’s a call to switch gears from token gestures to meaningful, science-based governance. Without swift reforms, Pakistan’s climate policies will remain trapped in an echo chamber of empty promises. The real test lies not in what the government says, but in what it funds, empowers and protects on the ground.