Pakistan’s healthcare and disaster response systems are struggling to cope with the increasing frequency of floods and heat waves. This is resulting in preventable deaths among vulnerable populations, particularly children and older people. A new report, based on collaboration with the Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), highlights the dire consequences of Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate disasters.
Despite being responsible for only about 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is the world’s fifth-most vulnerable country to climate disasters. Laura Mills, a researcher with the Crisis Response Programme, emphasizes that children and older people in Pakistan are suffering on the frontline of the climate crisis. They are exposed to extreme heat or floods that lead to disproportionate levels of death and disease.
Floods foster the spread of water- and mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory illnesses, significant threats to older people and young children. Extreme heat is also perilous for older adults, particularly those with preexisting health conditions and infants. However, Pakistan collects minimal mortality data on these impacts, hampering an adequate response and life-saving measures.
IHHN analyzed deaths in three of its facilities in 2022, located in regions most affected by floods and heatwaves: Badin (Sindh Province), Muzaffargarh, and Bhong (Punjab Province). The study compared mortality rates with climate indicators such as precipitation and temperature. Qualitative interviews were also conducted by visiting Sindh and Punjab provinces and speaking remotely with people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Pakistan’s dire climate impact
A total of 210 individuals were interviewed, including 90 relatives of people whose deaths were credibly linked to heatwaves or flooding. One tragic story involved Seeta, 32, and her three children, who were displaced to an elevated road near their village during the 2022 floods.
Despite creating a makeshift shelter, her one-year-old daughter Kareena developed a severe cough and could not be immediately taken to a doctor due to the floods. Eventually, they reached IHHN’s Badin hospital, but Kareena succumbed to acute respiratory distress. Pakistan’s capacity to document heatwave-related deaths is also inadequate.
In 2022, temperatures soared to 50°C in parts of Punjab, home to 120 million people, yet no heat-related deaths were officially recorded. Accurate recording of such deaths is challenging but vital for improving health responses and policy interventions. Pakistan experienced similar devastating floods and heatwaves in 2024, profoundly affecting over 1.5 million people.
While early warning systems improved, evacuation and preventive health measures remained grossly insufficient. As climate conditions worsen, the need for robust healthcare and disaster response systems in Pakistan becomes more urgent. Strengthening these frameworks and ensuring targeted support for the most vulnerable populations are critical steps to mitigate future climate disaster impacts.
The findings underscore the vital need for international support and concerted national efforts to enhance resilience against the escalating climate crisis and protect Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens.
Image Credits: Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
