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Winter (December to March) precipitation is the major source of rainfed agriculture, storage, and perennial water flow in the western river system of Pakistan. Hence, this study uses precipitation data and variables of land–ocean and atmosphere from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and fifth-generation reanalysis data (ERA5), respectively, to investigate the changes in winter precipitation and its sensitivity to different land–ocean and atmosphere variables, which are rarely investigated in Pakistan. Non-parametric techniques, such as the modified Mann–Kendal, Sen slope, kernel density-based probability function (PDF), empirical orthogonal function (EOF), and correlation analysis, were used to assess the changes and modes of variability in winter precipitation. The overall seasonal precipitation showed a significant decreasing trend with a (−0.1 mm d−1 yr−1) in the seasonal mean and monthly precipitation, except in February which showed a significant increase (>0.11 mm d−1 yr−1). The highest decrease in daily precipitation (0.60) with the central Pacific and Indian Ocean’s basin-wide sea surface temperature, corroborating the influence of ENSO-induced meridional/zonal deviation of Hadley–Walker circulations. The Hadley and Walker cells affect the south-westerlies’ jet stream strength, impacting the water vapor transport and precipitation over Pakistan. These changes in the precipitation magnitude will affect rain-fed agriculture, especially the Rabi cropping pattern and perennial river flow.

The sharp rise in temperature has increased the frequency, intensity, duration, and timing of heat waves (HWs) over different regions of the world. Due to climate change, the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the highly vulnerable regions to HWs and needs comprehensive research studies to investigate the HW phenomenon in the region. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal changes in the daytime and nighttime HW characteristics based on multiple indices over the CPEC region. We used daily maximum and minimum temperatures (hereafter Tmax and Tmin) of 48 meteorological stations for the time period of 1980–2016. The non-parametric modified Mann–Kendall, Theil–Sen’s test, least square method, student t-test, and chi-square goodness-of-fit test techniques were used to analyze the long-term spatiotemporal changes in the daytime and nighttime HW characteristics. The results of the study show that the number of annual daytime/nighttime HW events, annual sum of participating daytime/nighttime HW days, the average length of annual daytime/nighttime HW events, duration of the longest annual daytime/nighttime HW event, the average magnitude of all annual daytime/nighttime HW events, amplitude of the hottest annual daytime/nighttime HW event, and the ending date of annual last daytime/nighttime HW event exhibited significant increasing trends at the rate of 0.78/1.43 events decade−1, 10/11.82, 2/1.74, 2.16/1.52 days decade−1, 0.40/0.59, 0.24/0.73 °C decade−1, and 12.29/10 days decade−1, respectively. Despite all, the onset date of the annual first daytime/nighttime HW event has shown a significant decreasing trend of − 5.71/− 5 days decade−1. The obvious positive trend of HW behaviors indicates that the country has experienced more frequent, stronger, more intense, and longer HWs during the study period. The spatial pattern of the trend indicates that the southern, central and eastern parts of Pakistan exhibited prominent and consistent HW activities, while the northwestern mountainous regions showed high spatial variability with some stations exhibited decreasing trends in HW indices. The findings of this study will be a base for the projection and mitigation of HWs in the region. Based on the study findings, we recommend that the mechanism of HW and its natural and anthropogenic drivers should be thoroughly investigated over the study region.

The Balakot town and its surroundings were almost totally destroyed by Earthquake – 2005. The government has abandoned this town for residential purposes and declared as Red Zones Region. However, the government fully supported post disaster relief and restoration phases. The rehabilitation and reconstruction phases were carried out through community self-help-based system and partially supported by line agencies. This recovery is neither claimed by government nor desired by the community. It is the product of governments policy, interventions, local economic opportunities, and community self-help-based system. The present study will analyse each step of the recovery through study of the role of different stakeholders and its impacts on recovery process. All data sets are normalized and generalized with regression analysis. This study will generalize the complex process of recovery to reduce the risk of disasters.

Pakistan is located in one of the fast temperature rising zones and hence, highly vulnerable to climate change. The dynamic variations of the maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures pose potential risks to the local people. Thus, the present study assessed spatiotemporal changes in Tmax and Tmin over China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during 1980–2016 based on the 48 meteorological stations across the CPEC. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall (MK), Sen's Slope (SS) estimator, Sequential Mann-Kendall (SQMK), and least square method tests were used to assess the long-term trends in Tmax and Tmin time series during 1980–2016. The results indicate that the trend of Tmax has significantly increased at the rates of 0.22, 0.37, 0.20, 0.23, and 0.31 °C per decade in winter, spring, summer, autumn, and annual time scales, respectively. Similarly, the Tmin exhibited a significant positive trend in winter, spring, summer, autumn, and annual time series with the rates of 0.33, 0.39, 0.25, 0.27, and 0.36 °C per decade, respectively. The spatial distributions of Tmax and Tmin represent a warming trend over the whole country; however, the seasonal and annual Tmax (Tmin) exhibited sharp increasing trends in the northern and southwestern mountainous (southern, southwestern and southeastern) regions of the country. According to the mutation test, most of the abrupt changes in seasonal and annual Tmax and Tmin trends have been detected during 1995–2010. The present study recommends that forthcoming studies should focus on the factors responsible for the spatial and temporal variability of Tmax and Tmin in the target region.

This study was designed to evaluate the spatiotemporal performance of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models in the historical simulation and future projections of minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax), and mean temperature (Tmean) over South Asia (SA) during global warming of 1.5 oC, 2 oC, and 3 oC targets under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. It is worth mentioning that the present study is the first of its kind to use such a large number of CMIP5 models to project future changes in Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean over SA using three different warming thresholds. The results show that CSIRO–MK3–6–0, MIROC–ESM–CHEM, CNRM–CM5, CCSM4, and MRI–CGCM3 models relatively performed better with a consistent and accurate spatiotemporal simulation of Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean over SA. In terms of projected changes, Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean show a dominating and consistent warming pattern over SA with stronger intensity in higher latitude than mid–low latitudes under 1.5 oC, 2 oC, and 3 oC warming thresholds. The northwestern (eastern) regions of SA will witness greater (least) warming in Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean under all warming thresholds in RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Furthermore, the central and southern parts of SA will experience a moderate increase in Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean under all warming targets. The uneven and intensified patterns of Tmin, Tmax, and Tmean may result in temperature extremes, which would pose potential risks to the local population. Therefore, more attention should be paid on the regional and local perspectives to estimate the adverse impacts of these extremes under different global warming targets. We further suggest to project future changes in climate extremes over SA under different warming levels, which will be helpful in climate change adaptation and mitigation over the study region.

The present study identifies the limits and pattern of commercial activities within CBD of Peshawar. Retailing is topmost paying commercial activity and occupies the highest bid-rent location in the city. The Central Business District (CBD) is the retail heart of the city. The spatial arrangement of commercial activities happens to be very complex and their limits are dynamic in the CBD of Peshawar. The land value, rent values, taxation system, commuter behaviour, nature and transformation of commercial activities are directly dependent on this spatial arrangement and delimitation of CBD. The methodology adopted for this study is the combination of traditional rules/methods with modern tool of GIS. The results for spatial arrangement of commercial activities and delimitation of CBD are more precise which can enable the city planners and investors to achieve better sustainable development in city and regional context.

It has been observed that due to explosive growth of population, changing priorities, economic competition as well as inflation of the resources for social welfare services at the global level are dwindling. Keeping in view the shrinking position of resources for social welfare and community development the concept of participation emerged in area of social sciences and community development since 1980s. By the early 1980s participatory approach slowly and gradually came into use in the community development discourse. It was followed by a rapid growth in the development of methods for involving rural people in examining their own problems, setting their own goals, and monitoring their own achievements. It is important to note that an actively involved and empowered local population is essential for successful rural community development. This chapter on Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) covers a basic introduction to the theory of participation; Paradigm shift in Disaster management, process of CBDRM; participatory risk management planning and implementation and some of the relevant case studies related to various thematic area of the CBDRM in Pakistan.

Disasters are on the rise, and we cannot estimate the full range of impact of natural hazards, climate change and climate variability. Water scarcity is a major challenge for some part of our country. Increasing urbanization and pressure on land use will continue to increase our vulnerability and as a result more and more people will be at risk. We need to stop environmental degradation, enhance information exchange and cross border cooperation to ensure disaster risk reduction. However, there is a need of sustainable and coherent institutional mechanism with a vision of long term planning. Governments will still be judged by how they respond to a disaster. Disasters do give us windows of opportunity. We need to use these windows to ensure that people are not put back into the same vulnerable position again and again. There is a need to change the traditional one-dimensional focus on response and to build a stronger understanding of the need to evolve strong and disaster resilient societies. The earthquake 2005 was an eye opener for the government of Pakistan and the whole nation. The establishment of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster management Authorities (PDMAs) and FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) reveal the significance of the disaster management. Beside, this development the efforts of the private sector institutions and organizations cannot be ignored. They not only responded to the earthquake, 2005 and flash floods of Peshawar, 2008 but are also engaged in providing services to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and still providing services to the affected communities of floods 2010 throughout the country. It is clear that a radical change in the approach towards comprehensive disaster management is needed, with far greater attention toward prevention and preparedness rather than relief and rehabilitation. Perhaps we should begin by tackling the matter at the most fundamental level in order to ascertain and apportion the moral responsibility for the safety of the marginal population that inhibits risk zones. The present chapter is an attempt to explore the institutional structure for disaster management in Pakistan. The chapter focuses on an overview of disasters in Pakistan, causes of Pakistan’s vulnerability to disasters and climate change impacts as well as legal framework for disaster management in Pakistan, Institutional and organizational arrangements and problems in the current system is also discussed in the chapter.