Judicial Role in Advancing SDG 6: 25 Years of Climate and Water Rights Litigation in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper examines the judicial role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which guarantees access to clean water and sanitation, through climate and water rights litigation in Pakistan over the past twenty-five years. Pakistan, being highly vulnerable to climate-induced water scarcity and environmental degradation, has witnessed a progressive judicial response that has increasingly linked constitutional rights to environmental protection and sustainable resource management. The Supreme Court and High Courts have expanded the scope of fundamental rights, particularly the right to life and dignity under Article 9 of the Constitution, to include access to clean water and a healthy environment. Through landmark judgments, the judiciary has not only enforced environmental standards but also held state authorities accountable for sustainable water governance. This study adopts a doctrinal and case-law analysis to trace the evolution of judicial reasoning, highlighting how courts have aligned constitutional interpretation with Pakistan’s international obligations under the SDGs. By situating Pakistan’s experience within broader debates on climate justice and environmental constitutionalism, the paper demonstrates how judicial activism has become a critical driver of sustainable development. The findings suggest that Pakistan’s judiciary has played a pioneering role in operationalizing SDG 6, though challenges of enforcement and institutional capacity remain significant.

Keywords: Judicial Activism, Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), Climate Justice, Right to Water, Environmental Constitutionalism, Pakistan