ISLAMABAD: A devastating wildfire, believed to have been triggered by human activity, has destroyed more than 3,000 hectares of ecologically significant forest in Punjab’s Kotli Sattian region, exposing the growing vulnerability of Pakistan’s forests to climate change and extreme weather conditions.
The blaze, which raged for two days across 27 locations, consumed an estimated 3,326 hectares of natural forest cover, severely damaging the area’s Chir pine forests. According to satellite imagery released by SUPARCO through Space4Climate.gov.pk, a comparison of images taken between May 9 and May 29 revealed extensive destruction across the protected forest landscape, which serves as a critical watershed linked to the Indus and Jhelum river basins.
Among those caught in the inferno was local resident Fareha Yousaf and her family, who fought desperately to save their home in Karore village.
“The ground was so hot that I could feel my feet burn,” Ms Yousaf recalled. Alongside her husband, two daughters, and several staff members, she battled flames that had reached the fence surrounding their property. Videos shared by the family showed them clearing dry pine needles and shrubs while using buckets and plastic mugs to douse advancing flames.
She described suffering from severe smoke inhalation and lingering fear even after the fire was extinguished.
Forest Inspector Mohammad Tufail of the Punjab Forest Department said flames soared as high as 100 feet, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions.
“These are educated people who understand the dangers of forest fires. It is unfortunate that such carelessness could lead to a disaster of this scale,” he said.
Tufail also highlighted the lack of firefighting resources, noting that fewer than a dozen forest personnel armed only with brooms were available to combat the rapidly spreading fire.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination warned that the environmental consequences extend far beyond the immediate destruction. The fire has disrupted the breeding season of birds and wildlife, destroyed young seedlings and saplings, and created conditions favorable for invasive, fire-resistant grasses and shrubs to spread.
Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Saleem described the wildfire as a warning sign of Pakistan’s changing climate realities.
“Forest fires are increasingly becoming the new normal across the country as rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall patterns, and recurring heatwaves create ideal conditions for ignition and rapid fire spread,” he said.
Citing international research, Saleem noted that climate change is intensifying extreme heat events across South Asia, with Pakistan emerging as one of the region’s hotspots for severe and synchronized heatwaves. These conditions dry out vegetation and soil, significantly increasing wildfire risks.
According to the World Resources Institute, forest fires now burn more than twice as much tree cover globally as they did two decades ago, largely due to climate change.
Environmental experts emphasized that local communities remain the first line of defense against such disasters. They stressed the need for greater public awareness, community engagement, and improved firefighting capacity to protect vulnerable forest ecosystems.
Although firefighters and local residents have managed to contain the blaze in several areas, active fires continue to threaten nearby slopes as strong, hot winds persist.
Kotli Sattian, increasingly promoted as a tourist destination for its scenic landscapes, forests, waterfalls, and camping sites, remains one of Punjab’s most ecologically sensitive regions. The Murree–Kotli Sattian landscape is characterized by extensive Chir pine forests, steep mountainous terrain, and vital watersheds. The forest area under the jurisdiction of the Punjab Forest Department spans approximately 27,653 acres.
For residents like Fareha Yousaf, the disaster has left lasting emotional scars.
“We are all so scared that even though the fire has been put out, the fear is not going away,” she said.
Story by Jamal Shahid
