Heat-Prone Cities of Sindh Unveil Heat Action Plans as AKU and PDMA Strengthen Local Climate Resilience

In a significant move to strengthen preparedness for rising temperatures, the Centre of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies (CETE) at Aga Khan University (AKU), in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh, hosted a City Heat Action Plan Consultative Meeting on Friday, June 20, 2025.

The event marked a milestone in the HEAT (Heat Emergency Awareness and Treatment) project, funded by Elrha (Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance), a UK-based humanitarian funding body. It brought together over 20 senior government officials—including Assistant Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, and District Health Officers—from five of Sindh’s most heat-prone cities: Hyderabad, Dadu, Larkano, Mirpurkhas, and Naushero Feroze.

Over the past year, CETE and PDMA Sindh have supported local authorities in developing tailored Heat Action Plans focused on early warning systems, public awareness, emergency health response, and interdepartmental coordination. These cities were selected by PDMA based on their acute vulnerability to recurring extreme heat events.

“Each year, extreme heat pushes our healthcare systems to the brink and endangers lives, especially in vulnerable districts,” said Mr. Syed Shayan Shah, Director Operations, PDMA Sindh. “These Heat Action Plans give our local administrations concrete protocols: when to issue warnings, how to coordinate ambulance services, where to set up heat relief camps. It’s the kind of structured, city-level preparedness Sindh urgently needs.”

This initiative comes at a critical time. Millions across Sindh—especially low-income households, the elderly, outdoor workers, and residents of informal settlements—remain at high risk during heatwaves due to limited access to cooling and routine power outages. The 2024 heatwave alone led to 5,358 hospital admissions for heat-related illnesses and 158 livestock deaths. Between April and May 2025, PDMA reports confirmed treatment of 675 heatstroke cases across the province. Overall, an estimated 8.6 million people across 26 districts in Sindh face heightened food insecurity due to compounding heat and drought risks.

Healthcare infrastructure continues to be strained during such events. Emergency centers often face shortages of basic supplies like IV fluids, oxygen, and cooling beds, while clinics report long wait times and admission delays, further contributing to fatalities.

“We are proud to have supported city administrations in building these action plans,” added Mr Zaheer Chaand, Project Lead for HEAT at CETE, AKU. “This is a locally driven, evidence-informed effort that puts climate adaptation in the hands of those closest to the communities.”

The initiative showcases a replicable, city-led model of climate resilience, empowering local governments with the tools to protect lives amid growing climate extremes.