A new report from Amnesty International has exposed a stark reality: the majority of deaths caused by climate-related disasters in Pakistan are never officially recorded, masking the true human toll of an escalating climate crisis. As the country faces increasingly frequent floods and deadly heatwaves, its fragile health care system is being pushed to the brink — and failing to capture the full scope of the devastation.

According to the report, more than 95% of deaths in Pakistan go unregistered, and climate-linked fatalities are rarely categorized as such. This data gap obscures the magnitude of loss and complicates efforts to build resilience, improve emergency response, and plan effective public health interventions. The findings paint a troubling picture of systemic neglect and inadequate support from both national authorities and the international community.

While many deaths occur during climate disasters like floods or heatwaves, a significant number happen in the aftermath — often due to disease outbreaks, lack of clean water, malnutrition, and disruptions to essential health services. Yet these indirect deaths are seldom acknowledged as consequences of climate events, let alone included in official statistics.

“The true cost of climate change in Pakistan remains hidden,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “By failing to register deaths accurately, especially in rural and marginalized communities, the government is not only denying families justice but also hindering future disaster preparedness and health planning.”

The report highlights the severe challenges faced by Pakistan’s underfunded and overstretched health care system. Many health facilities lack the capacity, staff, and infrastructure to deal with climate-induced emergencies. During recent floods and heatwaves, hospitals were overwhelmed, with critical shortages of medicine, clean water, and cooling equipment. The crisis has been particularly devastating for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty.

Amnesty International also criticized high-emitting, wealthier nations for retreating from their international aid commitments and failing to provide adequate climate financing to countries like Pakistan that are on the front lines of the crisis. Despite contributing relatively little to global carbon emissions, Pakistan is among the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world.

“This is not just a national failure; it is a global one,” said the report. “The countries most responsible for climate change are also those failing to uphold their obligations to support those most affected by it. The result is a deepening cycle of poverty, displacement, and preventable death.”

Climate disasters in Pakistan have grown more severe in recent years. The 2022 floods submerged one-third of the country, affecting over 33 million people and causing economic losses of more than \$30 billion. Meanwhile, rising temperatures have brought frequent and prolonged heatwaves, putting millions at risk of heatstroke and dehydration. Despite these mounting threats, mechanisms to monitor, classify, and respond to climate-related health impacts remain grossly inadequate.

Experts say that recognizing the full extent of climate-related mortality is crucial for designing effective policies and mobilizing resources. Without reliable data, response strategies remain reactive and under-resourced. There are calls for Pakistan to overhaul its death registration systems, invest in climate-resilient health infrastructure, and ensure that climate-related health outcomes are properly tracked and reported.

Amnesty’s report urges immediate action from both the Pakistani government and the international community. Recommendations include increased funding for health care, better integration of climate data into health systems, and renewed global commitments to climate justice and aid.

As the climate crisis accelerates, the report warns, ignoring the hidden death toll in Pakistan and elsewhere will only lead to greater suffering. The world, it says, must reckon with the human cost of climate inaction — before more lives are lost in silence.