ANALYZING CLIMATE SHIFTS: PATTERNS OF TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN PAKISTAN

As of today, mankind faces an existential threat in the form of climate change. The geological location and other anthropogenic occurrences make Pakistan rank among the top-10[Formula: see text]countries worldwide most affected by climate change and natural tragedies. This review provides an in-depth examination of the shifting patterns of temperature and precipitation in Pakistan, highlighting the significant impacts of climate change on the region. Significant differences in temperature have been reported in Pakistan, indicating that the maximum and minimum annual temperatures varied at the rates of 0.12–0.29°C/decade and 0.10–0.37°C/decade, respectively. Annual precipitation shows notable fluctuations over the decades, highlighting periods of both surplus and deficit; especially, precipitation in the year 2023 was 16% above the long-period average of 1961–2010 with 344.1[Formula: see text]mm. When the air temperatures continue to rise, it is imperative for Pakistan to enhance its resilience to climate change through improved infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices, and effective water management. This study also reviews the disastrous effects of climate change on Pakistan, especially the recent occurrences of flooding and heatwaves.