With winter fast approaching, it is important to reflect on how this seasonal shift affects communities across Pakistan. For many, the arrival of colder months brings a welcome relief from the long summer and its unforgiving heatwaves. However, winter also exposes long-standing gaps in public preparedness and social welfare systems that remain unresolved year after year.
In urban centres, residents brace for increased gas load-shedding as the demand for heating rises. Households often struggle to manage without adequate gas pressure, forcing them to rely on costly alternatives. Meanwhile, air quality deteriorates sharply with the onset of winter smog, particularly in Lahore and parts of Punjab. Despite repeated warnings, effective policies to curb emissions and manage crop residue burning remain inconsistent.
The situation is even more challenging in rural and mountainous regions. Communities in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face the harsh cold without proper heating arrangements or insulated housing. Many schools in colder districts lack boundary walls, making attendance difficult for children. Access to healthcare becomes harder as snowfall cuts off roads and supply routes.
Each winter reveals the same vulnerabilities, yet long-term solutions are rarely prioritised. Civil society and local administrations should also play a role by supporting vulnerable households with warm clothing and food supplies. Winter may bring seasonal charm, but for many Pakistanis it brings hardship. Preparing now can help minimise suffering and protect the most vulnerable.
Tahir Rehman
Islamabad
