ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) will provide emergency health support to 1.3 million vulnerable people in 33 high-risk districts across Pakistan, ahead of expected monsoon floods.
The Monsoon Contingency Plan 2025 was discussed and finalized in a joint meeting of the Health Sector Coordination Forum, led by the Ministry of Health and co-led by WHO. The meeting included government officials and health partners and focused on preparing for monsoon-related health emergencies.
The plan seeks to provide a swift and well-coordinated emergency response, maintain uninterrupted health services in flood-affected regions, and strengthen systems for disease detection and outbreak management.
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The 33 targeted districts include 10 in Punjab, 10 in Sindh, 9 in Balochistan, and 4 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Priority will be given to pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five, elderly people, those with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and poor communities in flood-prone regions.
Key steps include:
Sending emergency health kits and supplies in advance
Improving disease surveillance and outbreak response
Enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene in health facilities
Providing services through mobile clinics, outreach teams, and telemedicine
“WHO stands with Pakistan to be ready for natural disasters by supporting fast response and continued health services,” said Dr Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan. “As climate change increases such risks, it’s important to protect the most vulnerable.”
Pakistan is the 8th most affected country by extreme weather, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. The country faces repeated disasters like floods, droughts, and heatwaves. The 2022 floods affected over 33 million people and damaged more than 2,000 health facilities.
