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This is a Systematic Review study.

September 5, 2025Mitteilungen Klosterneuburg1 citations

A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Climateinduced Migration in Pakistan: Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Policy Imperatives

WUWahid UllahCentral South University PNPeng NiLiaocheng University APAmjad PervezCentral South University

Key Points

Climate-induced migration is influenced by socioeconomic, geographical, and historical-structural vulnerabilities, compounding risks faced by communities.
A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature highlights the urgent need for integrated policies addressing inequalities and enhancing institutional capacities in Pakistan.
The findings emphasize the heightened vulnerability of women during climate-related displacement, pointing to systemic barriers and lack of resources for recovery.
Research has predominantly focused on flood-induced displacement, suggesting a need for increased attention to the impacts of slow-onset environmental hazards.

Abstract

In recent years, climate change has displaced millions of people around the world. South Asia—particularly Pakistan—is among the most vulnerable regions, where re-current floods, droughts, and extreme heat events have forced large segments of the population to migrate in search of safety and livelihoods. Despite this growing crisis, no comprehensive study has systematically examined the key factors driving cli-mate-induced migration in Pakistan. In this context, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2024, drawing from Google Scholar and Web of Science, to identify and synthesize the multidimensional drivers of climate-induced migration. Our analysis categorizes these drivers into three intersecting vulnerability domains: socioeconomic (income inequality, landlessness, limited access to healthcare and education, gender disparities), geographical (hazard exposure, terrain, water scarcity, slow on set events like droughts and heatwaves), and historical-structural (colonial legacies, tribal norms, land conflicts, governance failures, and gendered social structures). Findings reveal that climate-induced migration is not solely a response to environmental hazards but is shaped by overlapping vulnerabilities that compound risk. Research to date has focused disproportionately on flood-induced displacement, with limited attention to slow-onset disasters. A critical insight emerging from the review is the heightened vulnerability of women, who face systemic barriers, increased exposure to violence, and restricted access to relief and recovery resources during displacement. This review highlights the urgent need for integrated, risk-informed migration policies that address deep-rooted socioeconomic inequalities, strengthen institutional capacities, and ensure gender responsive planning. Tackling the structural drivers of vulnerability is essential for enabling safe, dignified, and adaptive forms of climate mobility in Pakistan.

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