Pakistan strengthens anticipatory action to reduce the impact of climate-related disasters

The national anticipatory action strategy builds on a joint initiative implemented by WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the European Union (EU) in support of the Government of Pakistan, through which a range of measures were introduced at national and sub-national levels to strengthen anticipatory action systems. These include strengthening early warning systems, testing protocols, and integrating anticipatory approaches into government disaster risk management and development planning.

“Anticipatory actions need to be activated to reduce disaster risks and minimise humanitarian and economic losses,” said the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik. “Timely preparedness, early warning dissemination, and a coordinated institutional response are essential to protect vulnerable communities from the increasing impacts of climate-induced hazards.”

Climate-related disasters in Pakistan have caused over US$18 billion in damages over the two decades- rising to more than US$60 billion when major flood events in 2010, 2011 and 2022 are factored in. The 2025 monsoon floods affected 6.9 million people, while 2026 has already begun with El Niño-related warnings of droughts and flash floods. The impact on food security from these events can be immense due to the destruction of livelihoods and assets which can take years to rebuild. 

The benefits of anticipatory action were demonstrated during the 2025 floods in Pakistan. In Khairpur district, Sindh, WFP and FAO with support from the EU, delivered anticipatory cash assistance of US$179 (PKR 50,000) per household to 15,000 vulnerable people three days before peak flooding. This enabled families to secure food and essential supplies, evacuate safely, and protect livestock and assets. 

“Pakistan’s exposure to climate-related hazards demands innovative approaches that help communities prepare for and withstand future shocks,” said Taheeni Thammannagoda, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid’s office in Pakistan. “The Anticipatory Action Strategy is an important step towards strengthening preparedness and enabling earlier, more informed action to reduce disaster impacts.”

The joint initiative also has helped upgrade risk analysis, contingency planning, and simulation exercises across national, provincial and district authorities in Sindh and Balochistan. 

“Evidence shows that every dollar invested in anticipatory action can save up to US$7 in avoided losses,” said Anita Hirsch, WFP Representative and Country Director in Pakistan. “With the next monsoon season approaching, continuous investments in anticipatory actions should not only save lives and livelihoods but also save resources in the long run.”

“Anticipatory action bridges humanitarian response and development by protecting people while ensuring that agriculture and livestock systems remain productive,” said James Robert Okoth, Officer in Charge, FAO Pakistan. “By acting before disaster strikes, we safeguard not only lives and their crops and animals, but also the futures, dignity, and resilience of the communities who depend on them.” 

Moving forward, efforts will focus on aligning provincial processes and mobilizing pre-disaster public financial mechanisms that can release resources ahead of shocks. This scaling effort is supported by partners including the EU and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), helping ensure early warnings translate into timely action. 

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