Amnesty International (AI) has called on Pakistan to develop and implement a national heat action policy that aligns with global human rights laws and standards. In a report published on the AI’s website, the global rights organization highlighted the climate injustice prevalent in Pakistan, where the population suffers severe consequences despite the country’s relatively small contribution to global climate change.
The report emphasized the devastating impact of heavy rains and flooding between June and August of the previous year, which resulted in an unprecedented climate-induced disaster according to the United Nations. This disaster caused numerous deaths, injuries, loss of livelihoods, and internal displacement of approximately 7.9 million people.
Focusing specifically on the effects of extreme heat in Pakistan on people’s right to health, the report noted that the country has experienced some of the highest temperatures in the world in recent years due to increased heat exposure and frequent heatwaves.
Amnesty International recommended that the federal government and provincial authorities, including those in Punjab and Sindh, take necessary measures to develop comprehensive heat action plans in accordance with human rights standards. These plans should prioritize the safety of vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by extreme heat, with particular attention to the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women in these groups. Protection of individuals working outdoors or exposed to extreme heat in their occupations should be a key focus area within the heat management plans, ensuring adequate safeguards against income loss due to heat-related illnesses.
The report also urged the government to transparently and inclusively develop a “National Adaptation Plan” that allows the participation of all affected groups. Additionally, it emphasized the need to enhance existing social protection programs and increase investment in them to ensure access to social protection and the fulfillment of economic and social rights for all.
Furthermore, Amnesty International called on Pakistan’s creditors to provide debt relief, including debt cancellation, to enable the country to protect the economic and social rights of its people amidst the economic and climate crisis. The report emphasized the importance of upholding human rights responsibilities and obligations in order to support vulnerable individuals who are disproportionately affected by the crisis, ensuring access to adequate social security and support.
Published in PakWeb, June 5th, 2023.
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