Pakistan ranks 8th on the Global Climate Risk Index as the most vulnerable country due climate change. Moreover, the country’s geographical location, coupled with its varied climatic conditions, exposes it to a multitude of hazards, making Pakistan a disaster-prone country. Pakistan is situated in a seismically active region, making it prone to earthquakes, particularly along the northern and western borders. The devastating earthquake of 2005 serves as a poignant reminder of the country's seismic vulnerability. In addition to earthquakes, Pakistan grapples with the annual onslaught of monsoon rains, which bring the risk of devastating floods. The monsoon season, typically spanning from June to September, brings heavy rainfall and leads to riverine floods, flash floods, and urban flooding in various parts of the country. These floods cause significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings, as well as displacement of communities and loss of lives, as seen during the monsoon 2022. Furthermore, droughts pose a significant challenge to Pakistan's agricultural sector and overall water security. Certain regions, particularly Balochistan and parts of Sindh, experience prolonged periods of water scarcity, resulting in reduced crop yields, livestock losses, and food insecurity. Droughts not only impact agricultural productivity but also exacerbate poverty, displacement, and social unrest. Besides, in 2020 devastating locust attack brought severe damages to agriculture sector in the country. The infestation forced the government to declare a national emergency as the invading insects ravaged crops.
In recent years, heatwaves in Pakistan have also become more frequent and intense, posing significant risks to human health and agriculture. The combination of high temperature, high humidity, and prolonged exposure to heat are particularly dangerous for the vulnerable segment of the population, including the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Moreover, prolonged periods of extreme heat can damage crops, reduce yields, and disrupt livestock production and therefore leading to food shortages and economic losses.
These natural and climate induced disasters have far-reaching socio-economic consequences. They disrupt livelihoods, destroy critical infrastructure, strain healthcare systems, and exacerbate poverty and inequality. Vulnerable populations, including women, children, the elderly, and marginalized communities, bear the brunt of these disasters, further widening the existing social disparities.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, faces a unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities when it comes to natural and climate-related disasters. The province is susceptible to all kinds of geo-meteorological disasters mentioned above. Balochistan has faced powerful earthquakes, including the recent Harnai Earthquake in October 2021. The province is also susceptible to both flash floods and riverine floods during the monsoon season. The rugged topography and arid climate of the province exacerbate the impact of heavy rainfall, leading to flash floods in mountainous areas and riverine floods in low-lying regions. These floods not only cause immediate destruction but also leave behind long-term consequences, such as damage to agriculture, disruption of livelihoods, and the spread of waterborne diseases. Droughts are also a recurring event, having severe implications for water availability and agricultural productivity. Prolonged periods of water scarcity contribute to food insecurity, as agriculture is the primary livelihood for many communities in the province. Additionally, the coastal areas of Balochistan are prone to the impact of tropical cyclones. These cyclones bring strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall, resulting in the destruction of coastal infrastructure, damage to fishing communities, and environmental degradation.
In the context of this high vulnerability to natural disasters, Balochistan ranks as the most socio-economically vulnerable province in Pakistan with a high prevalence of poverty, acute food insecurity, malnutrition, and low literacy. Despite its vast geographical area, the province accounts for only six percent of the total population of the country. To add to this, the province has been consistently ranking lowest in terms of human development indicators as 71 percent of its population live in multidimensional poverty. Other structural issues, including inadequate infrastructure, limited early warning systems and weak disaster management capacity, deficient water management systems, and lack of climate change adaptation strategy exacerbate the province’s vulnerability to the effect of natural disasters and climate change.
Addressing Balochistan's vulnerability to disasters requires a comprehensive approach. It is crucial to strengthen the capacity of local communities to understand and mitigate risks, enhance early warning systems, improve infrastructure resilience, and ensure effective coordination among relevant stakeholders. Investments in sustainable land and water management practices, climate change adaptation measures, and disaster risk reduction strategies are vital for building resilience and reducing the impact of disasters. The Post Disaster Needs Assessment 2022 (PDNA) also recommends these actions to achieve climate-resilient, inclusive, and people-centred recovery from the effects of the 2022 floods. The PDNA emphasizes the importance of comprehensive risk education programs aimed at increasing community awareness and knowledge regarding potential hazards and risk reduction measures and the need for infrastructure resilience by promoting the use of disaster-resistant construction techniques, retrofitting existing infrastructure, and integrating climate change adaptation measures into infrastructure planning.
Taking into account findings from field observation; feedback from community, government line departments, and stakeholders; and experience of implementing earlier phases of NDRMF-funded project, Muslim Aid Pakistan had selected 22 flood-affected/damaged infrastructure schemes in districts Killa Saifullah and Loralai in Balochistan. Out of these 22 the project has select 11 schemes damaged during the monsoon 2022 floods for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Project Size: Medium (100-500)
