Nature Insights

Imagine the helpless faces in the video clinging to small mounds of land, eyes fixed on the roaring Swat River floods as it swells beyond its banks. In seconds, nature’s fury swallows them whole. This is not a scene from a movie or a nightmare, but the real and heartbreaking story of tourists, including Adnan’s family, a tourist from Daska. Ten family members - four women and six children - were swept away while simply having breakfast by the river. Swat River Floods Mourning: The Swat River , once a symbol of life and beauty, is now a grim reminder of environmental negligence. Over 75 lives lost across various parts of the region following violent flash floods triggered by the relentless monsoon rains. While over 55 people were rescued under treacherous conditions, racing against time and tide.  But this tragedy was not an isolated incident. It was part of a grim pattern. And u ntil we respect nature and adapt to its changing patterns, the tragedies like this will remain our bitt...

Sarbali Khan lives a simple life in the sun-scorched village of Kanju, Swat, where the fields once smelled of grass and the winds offered peace and respite. His livelihood depends on a few animals, the most prized of which are his cows - the mild creatures, loyal, dependable, and like a family to him. But this summer, something unusual began to unfold itself in the backdrop of climate change impact on livestock .  His cows stopped giving milk, ate less, moved slower, and retreated into themselves day after day. He anxiously watched them. And it seemed to him, as if, they are wilting under the relentless sky.  Bathing of Animals After Climate Change Impact on Livestock: Until one day, when Sarbali poured cool water over their dusty backs. They were happy to give milk. That simple act of bathing changed everything. Now, every morning and evening,  he fills a metal bucket and gives his cows a gentle bath. It's not just a routine anymore; it has become a matter of s...

Pakistan's forest-rich province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is on the brink of a green economic revolution - KP’s Green Revolution .  In  a newly launched feasibility report titled “KP Forest Credit Mapping, Technical and Feasibility Report” reveals the province could earn up to $4 billion over the next 40 years through forest carbon credit initiatives, sustainable timber harvesting, and development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). KP’s Green Revolution: A milestone toward sustainable development and climate resilience Launched at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in attendance, this comprehensive 478-page KP’s green revolution report was prepared under the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) initiative. It marks a major milestone against  the growing effects of climate change   in the country's, as a journey toward sustainable development and climate resilience. A Province of Forest Riches: B...

When torrential rains lashed Pakistan in recent weeks, and caused flash floods , damaging homes, destroying crops, and resulted in tragic loss of life, many labeled it as yet another "natural disaster." But to consider it in isolation is to dangerously miss the exact point. What we witnessed is not a freak event, but a part of a disturbing pattern that reveals the growing effects of climate change in South Asia and its intensifying grip in Pakistan . The Growing Effects of Climate Change: A Climate Alarm, Not Just a Weather Event The rains did not just fall heavily; they fell erratically and intensely to disrupt the natural rhythm of the monsoon season. The towns and villages that rarely saw floods in the past were submerged, while the urban centers struggled with choked drainage and power outages. In some areas of the country, the monthly average rainfall totals were met within a single day. This is no longer “unusual weather.” This is the new normal. Scientific studi...

Pakistan is breaking heat and rainfall records, as its climate continues to warm. The country's changing weather patterns mean it now experiences a "notably different" climate to what it was just a few decades ago.  The global warming impacts in Pakistan has prompted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to issue frequent alerts and precautionary measures against heatwaves and floods, now echoing as ringtones on smartphones. Extreme weather is the Country’s new normal due to Global Warming Impacts in Pakistan: The country has already experienced, at least, two major heatwaves in the spring and early summer of 2025. One of the heatwave occurred in late April and early May, with the temperatures rose 4 degrees Fahrenheit above average and potentially reaching 50°C (122°F) in areas of Punjab and Sindh.  The second heatwave impacted the country in the early June, with temperatures reaching 49°C (120°F) in some cities and feeling over 50°C in o...

We romanticize nostalgia as a warm embrace from the past, but what if this comforting reminder of simpler times begin to shift. Whereas the cherished memories take on the tones of regret, sadness, or even emotional distress. In such a case, they  may even turn against us, and can sometimes hurt more than it heals by the changing nature of nostalgia . Recent psychological insights challenge the traditional view of nostalgia as a purely positive or static force. Instead, they reveal a more complex emotional landscape, where joy and sorrow often walk hand in hand, while the memories or events that initially felt uplifting may grow more bittersweet over time by losing positivity and tinged with regret, loneliness, and longing to challenge the assumptions about nostalgia’s emotional stability.  The Changing Nature of Nostalgia: More Than Just Happiness in Rewind Traditionally, nostalgia has been seen as a tool for emotional comfort - a way to momentarily escape the present challen...

Pakistan is bracing for yet another bout of heavy rainfall, prompting the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to issue a nationwide alert . Over the next three days, a significant wet spell is expected to prevail and impact its large portion. While short-term measures are being taken to mitigate immediate risks, these events serve as alarming reminders of climate change and the growing impact of weather extremes in Pakistan on infrastructure, and public safety. What’s Happening? NDMA’s Nationwide Alert About  Weather  Extremes in Pakistan The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) under the NDMA, reported that a three-day weather-impact outlook has been released. The forecast indicates widespread moderate to heavy rainfall due to moisture inflows from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This has raised significant concern over flash flooding, especially near nullahs (streams) and low-lying areas, indicating weather extremes in Pakistan . Rising river flows i...