Pakistan, Aug. 13 -- Natural disasters cost Pakistan an estimated 1-2 percent of its gross domestic product each year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this week, warning that conflict, militancy and the country's role as a major refugee host are compounding the strain on its economy and public services.

Pakistan, one of the world's largest refugee-hosting nations, has faced decades of economic and social pressure linked to displacement from neighboring Afghanistan, ongoing militancy in border regions, and repeated climate-related disasters. Agriculture, which employs over a third of the workforce, is particularly exposed, with climate-linked disruptions threatening food security and rural livelihood...