UN Allocates $829K to Combat Heatwaves in Pakistan
News Desk
Islamabad: The United Nations has unveiled a comprehensive Heatwave Emergency Plan aimed at 38 districts across Pakistan, as the country grapples with escalating climate-related challenges, particularly in urban areas struggling to cope with extreme heat.
The initiative, led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), focuses on enhancing early response mechanisms and improving preparedness in collaboration with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and various humanitarian organizations.
To kick off preparedness efforts for 2025, a total of $829,728 in pre-arranged fuel funding has been allocated. The UN’s initial phase will target approximately 776,000 people across 12 high-risk districts in Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab.
This plan is part of a larger Intersectoral Heatwave Emergency Plan, where OCHA will play a pivotal role in joint planning, coordinating response actions, and mapping out collective preparedness strategies.
Ranked fifth on the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense. The country’s exposure to extreme weather, particularly heatwaves, poses significant health risks, including fatalities and hospitalizations.
Heatwaves are defined by the UN as periods where temperatures exceed normal levels by three to five degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days. Such extreme heat can lead to serious health consequences, including physical and mental health issues. Factors such as humidity, air pressure, and population density further amplify the risks, with urban centers being especially vulnerable.
Cities with populations over one million, including Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur in Sindh, and Jaffarabad, Sohbatpur, and Naseerabad in Balochistan, are particularly at risk, with temperatures potentially reaching up to three degrees higher than surrounding rural areas.
UNOCHA highlighted the lack of effective early warning systems and public infrastructure, such as cooling centers and hydration stations, as key factors exacerbating heatwave risks. Karachi, in particular, remains a major concern due to its recurring exposure to heatwaves without sufficient mitigation measures.
The emergency plan is set to cover more than 36 million people across all four provinces, with Sindh expected to be the hardest-hit, followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
Despite repeated heatwave warnings, including the devastating 2015 heatwave that claimed over 1,200 lives in Karachi, urban areas still struggle with inadequate heatwave management. UNOCHA has called for urgent actions, such as government-subsidized cooling technologies, the creation of public cooling centers in high-density zones, and the installation of water stations in both urban and rural areas.
Public awareness campaigns are deemed crucial for helping vulnerable populations adapt to rising temperatures, as climate change continues to worsen weather extremes across the region.
The plan is set to be triggered based on pre-established temperature thresholds, with coordinated efforts from the UN, government bodies, and local partners. Officials are optimistic that the emergency plan will not only mitigate the immediate effects of heatwaves but also help build long-term climate resilience in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
