Over two years since the super floods of 2022, many communities in Balochistan continue to grapple with its aftermath. They have been frustrated by the sluggish recovery efforts due to the provincial government's slow implementation of rehabilitation efforts and delayed disbursement of funds by the federal government and international funding agencies.
But as the world gathers for crucial discussion on tackling climate change impacts across the globe at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the 2022 super floods and its aftermath could be pertinent in securing sufficient funding and developing an expedited and effective mechanism for the disbursement of disaster funds.
In Dera Murad Jamali, a city in the Southwest province, a woman still lives in a tent with her three children. The tent was supposed to have been a temporary shelter, but it has been the only home she has had access to for the past two years. But as winter starts to creep into the plains of Balochistan, she has been struggling to keep her children warm.
"We lost everything in the floods. And while we were promised help, nothing substantial has been provided," she lamented.
There are similar stories which echo across the flood-affected areas of Balochistan. In Naseerabad in Dera Murad Jamali, a farmer expressed frustration over the government's unfulfilled promises towards flood-affectees: "The government officials came, but only for photo sessions. Since then, we've had no meaningful assistance."
The devastating floods of 2022 led to the deaths of an estimated 1,700 people across the country. The provinces suffered disproportionately, with Sindh experiencing the highest toll, with 799 people losing their lives. Balochistan recorded 336 fatalities, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had approximately 309 deaths, and Punjab reported significant casualties of 221 as well.
The floods displaced eight million people, damaged over two million homes, and caused substantial losses in agriculture, infrastructure, and livestock. Economic damages were estimated at around $30 billion, with Sindh and Balochistan being the hardest-hit areas. This disaster led to significant appeals for international aid, as well as discussions on climate justice, given that Pakistan contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions but faces severe climate impacts.
Delays in aid distribution, however, point to deeper systemic issues within Pakistan's relief and disaster management framework. Experts argue that Pakistan's difficulty in fully utilising available international climate funds arises from inadequate institutional capacity and fragmented administration.
Dr Farooq Qamar, an economist with expertise in disaster management, highlighted a fundamental issue: "Pakistan lacks a centralised authority that can efficiently manage and deploy large-scale relief projects."
World Bank had initially approved a $400 million loan for flood rehabilitation. However, the release of a second tranche worth $213 million is contingent upon the effective utilisation of the first portion, which has seen limited progress
This lack of streamlined governance and project oversight, he explains, leads international donors to release funds cautiously, fearing they won't be used effectively or reach intended beneficiaries.
Environmental governance specialist Asma Javed adds that the provincial governments' limited financial and administrative capacity further hamper effective aid deployment. She argues that empowering local authorities with greater autonomy to manage funds could enable more agile, responsive disaster management.
"Regions like Balochistan need independent management structures with a clear accountability framework," Javed explained. "This would reduce bureaucratic delays and allow local agencies to address immediate needs without waiting for central directives."
Slow disbursement of funds
In Balochistan, only a fraction of the $220 million allocated for flood rehabilitation has been utilised, with approximately $22 million spent so far.
The Ministry of Finance says that the World Bank had initially approved a $400 million loan for flood rehabilitation. However, the release of a second tranche worth $213 million is contingent upon the effective utilisation of the first portion, which has seen limited progress.
This funding, intended to support crucial post-flood recovery, remains largely untapped due to implementation challenges at the provincial level.
In addition to the World Bank, China pledged a grant worth $200 million, specifically for housing reconstruction in Balochistan, with an initial $6 million provided as a pilot for building 8,000 houses. Yet, like other pledges, a portion of this grant remains unutilised. The plan eventually envisaged constructing around 35,000 homes, but delays in fund usage and implementation were hindering the project's progress.
According to officials of the Ministry of Finance, issues causing delays in fund utilisation relate to capacity and administrative obstacles within the Balochistan government, which has struggled to move the projects forward.
The collaboration between Sindh, the federal government, and the World Bank has remained largely on paper, with little tangible impact on-ground, similarly, it has left many flood survivors in Balochistan homeless even two years after the disaster — PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Moreover, the World Bank committed $100 million specifically to build water-related infrastructure in Balochistan — intended to help address the region's water scarcity and flood management needs. However, the finance ministry recommended that Balochistan establish a more efficient project implementation structure before making further disbursements. Until a streamlined and transparent system is in place, additional funds will likely be withheld, given that the federal government guarantees these loans and must ensure their effective use.
Disgruntlement among allies
At a recent event in Quetta, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, though, voiced concerns over the federal government's approach towards disbursement of rehabilitation and reconstruction funds, suggesting that Balochistan has been treated like a "stepchild" regarding flood relief. He stressed that despite prior commitments, progress has been minimal, and no houses have been fully rebuilt to date, even after the promises of the federal coalition agreement to provide support.
Bhutto expressed frustration over the handling of international funds, pointing out that although aid arrived in US dollars, it was distributed domestically in rupees, often with bureaucratic obstacles. He highlighted that the collaboration between Sindh, the federal government, and the World Bank has remained largely on paper, with little tangible impact on-ground, similarly, it has left many flood survivors in Balochistan homeless even two years after the disaster.
Calling for stronger and closer cooperation between provincial and federal governments, Bhutto emphasised the urgency of addressing both climate resilience and flood rehabilitation in Balochistan. He pointed out the need for systemic change to expedite aid distribution, urging that financial resources reach flood survivors without excessive bureaucratic oversight. He stressed that to make real progress, funds must be placed in capable hands committed to transparent and rapid deployment for effective disaster recovery.
Loss and damage fund and COP29
In the face of these challenges, Pakistan's efforts on the global stage have, nonetheless, made strides. The establishment of the global Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) during COP28 marked a significant victory, following Pakistan's passionate advocacy for developing such a mechanism after the 2022 super floods. This fund aims to support countries facing severe climate impacts, and Pakistan's leadership in bringing it to fruition underscores its role as a vocal climate advocate. However, current contributions to the fund stand at just $700 million — far below what's required to effectively support Pakistan and other vulnerable nations.
Imran Khalid from WWF-Pakistan described this initial funding as "peanuts" compared to Pakistan's climate-related losses, which, from the 2022 super floods alone, stood at over $30 billion.
While the LDF holds promise, securing consistent and adequate funding remains challenging. At COP29, Pakistan has advocated for a sustainable funding framework for the LDF and simpler fund-approval processes, emphasising that these are essential for ensuring aid can be disbursed quickly and transparently. Pakistan's delegation will also be focused on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), which aims to enhance annual climate finance flows from developed to developing countries, a target that remains largely unmet since it was first set in 2009.
In parallel with its international diplomacy, Pakistan has been working to improve its domestic climate resilience. Projects like "Recharge Pakistan," a $77.8 million initiative funded by the US, the Green Climate Fund, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and WWF, seek to restore ecosystems and reduce flood and drought risks in the Indus Basin. This project represents a step forward, but broader climate adaptation requires a far greater mobilisation of resources, strategic governance reforms, and local capacity building.
For Pakistan, the path to meaningful climate resilience lies in bridging the gap between pledges and tangible action. Strengthening institutional capacity, decentralising disaster response, and ensuring transparent fund disbursement processes are critical. Only with these improvements can Pakistan fulfil its commitments to its people and transform international support into real, lasting change for the communities most impacted by climate disasters.
NOTE: This story was produced as part of the 2024 Climate Change Media Partnership Virtual Reporting Fellowship, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews' Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Centre for Peace and Security.