GUJRANWALA / KARACHI / SHIKARPUR: Climate activists, farmers, and trade unions staged demonstrations in various cities across Pakistan, including Gujranwala, Karachi, and Shikarpur, demanding climate reparations ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting. The protests, part of a coordinated Global Week of Action for Climate Finance, call for $5 trillion in climate finance to help count ries like Pakistan cope with the growing climate crisis.

Organized by the Labour Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, and other workers’ groups, the protest in Gujranwala saw industrial workers and farmers join forces to highlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. Baba Latif, Chairman of the Labour Qaumi Movement, emphasized the dual threat faced by workers. “Industries in Pakistan operate with little to no environmental regulations, putting workers at serious health risks. Heatwaves and floods, driven by climate change, further threaten livelihoods. It is time for rich nations, who have grown wealthy at the expense of poorer countries, to take responsibility and provide the necessary funds for climate adaptation and mitigation,” he said.

In Sindh, two major protests were held. In Shikarpur, the Hari Jeddojehad Committee, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, and the Pakistan Railway Workers Union – Open Line led a large demonstration. Ali Khoso, President of the Hari Jeddojehad Committee, reminded the crowd of the devastation caused by the 2022 floods, which displaced millions. He noted, “While our government has a role to play in relief efforts, we cannot ignore the fact that climate change is largely driven by the actions of rich nations and their corporations. These countries have exploited our resources while worsening the global climate crisis, and they must now pay their fair share to address the damage.”

In Karachi, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum organized a demonstration led by its General Secretary, Saeed Baloch. He called out the United States as the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases, holding it primarily responsible for the ongoing climate crisis. “The U.S. and other rich, polluting countries have a moral and legal obligation to cover the costs of mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage in countries like Pakistan. Without adequate climate finance, injustice will continue, and it is the people of the Global South who will suffer the most as global temperatures rise,” Baloch said.

The protests across Pakistan were part of a broader regional movement, with similar demonstrations taking place in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Organized by the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), these protests are focused on pushing for an immediate phaseout of fossil fuels and ensuring sufficient climate finance for vulnerable nations.