Islamabad, Dec 3 (NationPress) Karachi, a major city in Pakistan, is grappling with rampant illegal land reclamation and a significant rise in unregulated construction—from sprawling concrete developments to towering high-rises—jeopardizing coastal communities, traditional fishing practices, and the city's limited number of protected parks. This unchecked growth has exacerbated the urban heat island effect, causing the city to feel increasingly like a furnace, as highlighted in a recent report.

According to the latest Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025 released by the United Nations, the rapid concrete expansion and diminishing green spaces in Karachi are leading to extreme temperature increases that could surpass those in most Asian cities.

“This dire situation is particularly alarming for a metropolis that has seen an uptick in heat waves over the past decade, with the possibility of even hotter conditions looming. Without immediate action, disorganized urban growth, dense constructions, and reduced natural buffers could raise temperatures by a concerning 2°C-7°C above global warming thresholds, heightening the urban heat island effect and edging the nation’s economic hub closer to unlivability,” detailed a report from Pakistan's prominent newspaper, Business Recorder.

The UN report places Karachi among nine Asian cities most vulnerable to rising temperatures in the coming years. It also forecasts that Pakistan may emerge as one of the most arid nations between 2041 and 2060, facing life-threatening heat and severe water shortages, thereby reshaping the country's disaster landscape.

“There is a persistent—and justified—focus on how developed industrial nations have contributed to global ecological deterioration through decades of unchecked emissions, placing the heaviest burdens on countries like ours. However, this context does not absolve the self-serving, shortsighted, and frequently ineffective governance frameworks that have intensified our own vulnerabilities,” the report stated.

“Nowhere is this more evident than in Karachi, consistently ranked among the least livable urban areas globally. This status is influenced not only by climate threats but also by years of institutional neglect, fragmented authority, and policy inertia, which have further exacerbated environmental challenges, trapping the city in a damaging cycle,” it added.

The report notes that Karachi has seen six master plans since gaining independence, with the latest—the Greater Karachi Regional Plan 2047—unveiled earlier this year. However, these initiatives have not adequately tackled the city's core issues, including rapid population growth, unregulated urbanization, decaying municipal services, chronic transportation failures, encroached waterways, poor waste management, and diminishing public and green spaces.

“The reality is that urban planning in Karachi—as in other major cities in Pakistan—is more influenced by political motives and the quest for centralized control than by scientific data or the insights of local experts regarding population growth and climate needs,” the report emphasized.