54% of Pakistanis believe recent climate changes 'punishment from God'

Gallup Pakistan survey shows 54% believe changes 'punishment from God', 22 per cent say global warming.

ISLAMABAD: Over 50 per cent of Pakistanis believe the recent climatic changes are the ‘punishment from God’, revealed a survey conducted by Gilani Research Foundation and Gallup Pakistan.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the country were asked the following question:

Overall extreme weather conditions are prevailing both nationally and internationally. In your opinion what is the reason behind these changes?

Twenty two per cent stated that the weather extremities are a result of global warming, 21 per cent said the changes are a result of pollution, while 54 per cent were of the opinion that these weather conditions are a punishment from God. One per cent gave other responses and two per cent gave no response.

A detailed analysis of the survey showed that those residing in rural areas (56 per cent) believed the weather changes to be the punishment of God, as compared to their urban counter parts (50 per cent).

The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 2754 men and women in rural and urban areas of the country, during January 2011.

The error margin is estimated to be approximately + 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level.