In a major step towards tackling the escalating threat of extreme heat events in Pakistan, the Center of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies (CETE) at Aga Khan University (AKU) has partnered with Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
This collaboration, under the ‘Heat Emergency Awareness and Treatment’ project funded by Elrha, aims to enhance public awareness, develop exposure treatment strategies, and create a comprehensive Heat Plan to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The initiative was launched with a stakeholder meeting that brought together high-profile officials, including Assistant Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, and District Health Officers from various districts across Sindh. Key participants included Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist of the Pakistan Meteorological Department; Imdad Hussain Siddiqui, Director of Operations at PDMA; and Rescue 1122 and Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services representatives. Their involvement underscores the urgency and importance of a unified approach to managing heatwaves in the region.
“Extreme heat is a rapidly growing public health crisis, especially for cities in Pakistan,” said Dr. Junaid Razzak, Director of CETE. “Given its impact, cities need to have clear action plans with well-defined triggers. We look forward to partnering with PDMA and other partners to provide necessary technical support to develop such plans.”
During the meeting, a consensus was reached on the need for a more effective and institutionalized District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), improved coordination on heatwave management across districts, and a stronger focus on launching an effective communication campaign between government departments and non-profit organizations. All stakeholders agreed to hold regular meetings to address this issue and were committed to developing a Heatwave Management Plan for adversely affected districts.
Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, emphasized the complexity of heatwaves. “We need to understand the phenomenon of heatwaves and how they are generated. It’s not only the daytime temperature that triggers a heatwave alert; heatwaves are complex events influenced by various factors. Comprehensive understanding and monitoring of these elements are crucial for effective heatwave management and timely alerts.”
Imdad Hussain Siddiqui, Director of Operations at PDMA, praised AKU’s efforts. “AKU has taken a big step in gathering different stakeholders under one roof on a very important topic, and this should be a continuous process.”
As part of the project, CETE has developed an animated awareness video on heat emergencies and their management, which is being disseminated via social media channels to educate the public. This initiative represents a critical step in ensuring that Pakistani communities are better prepared to handle the increasing threat of heatwaves, thereby safeguarding public health and safety.