How much forest cover does Pakistan have?

Pakistan has only around 5% of its total land area covered by forests, as it loses approximately 11,000 hectares of forest each year.

What is the impact of deforestation on Pakistan's cities?

Disappearing green cover in cities like Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala is putting residents at risk and creating cascading impacts on community health, agriculture, and economic resilience.

How are farmers in rural Punjab affected by the loss of forests?

Farmers point to declining canopy cover as a reason for faster soil drying and higher input costs, as they now have to spend more time and money to obtain fodder and fuelwood.

Home / Environment / Pakistan's Vanishing Forests Fuel Climate Crisis Amid Rapid Urbanization

Pakistan's Vanishing Forests Fuel Climate Crisis Amid Rapid Urbanization

3 Nov

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Summary

Pakistan loses 11,000 hectares of forest annually, leaving only 5% forest cover
Rapid urbanization and industrial expansion in Punjab province are primary drivers
Disappearing green spaces intensify heatwaves, flooding, and soil erosion

As of November 2025, Pakistan's subtropical, dry, and temperate forests are confronting severe challenges. Rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and indiscriminate tree cutting, especially in the province of Punjab, are intensifying heatwaves, localized flooding, and soil erosion. The consequences are already evident in cities like Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, where disappearing green cover is putting residents at risk and creating cascading impacts on community health, agriculture, and economic resilience.

Pakistan loses approximately 11,000 hectares of forest each year, resulting in forest cover of only around 5% of the total land area. Punjab, the most populous and industrially active province, has emerged as a critical hotspot, with the rapid development of housing societies, factories, and industrial zones systematically depleting mature trees and urban green spaces.

The knock-on effects of this deforestation are far-reaching. Degraded land makes floods more destructive, while disrupted water cycles add to the cost of maintaining infrastructure. Farmers in rural Punjab point to declining canopy cover as a reason for faster soil drying and higher input costs. Families who once collected fodder or fuelwood nearby now spend more time and money to obtain these resources.

Effective regulatory enforcement and urban planning that incorporates mandatory green zoning and tree retention requirements are crucial to address this crisis and build Pakistan's climate resilience.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.