Sindh steps up disaster preparedness as climate risks intensify
KARACHI: With climate change increasing the risks posed by extreme weather events, Sindh has moved in to strengthen disaster preparedness, improve early warning systems and enforce risk-sensitive construction practices to minimise casualties and damage to property.
Marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sindh Adviser to the Chief Minister on Rehabilitation, Giyanchand Essrani, and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director-General Salman Shah called for a coordinated, technology-driven approach to disaster management.
They stressed advance planning, early identification of hazards and timely emergency response as critical to protecting vulnerable communities.
Essrani said disaster-related losses could be reduced through proactive planning, greater public awareness and stronger institutional capacity.
?He emphasised that climate change had made effective disaster risk reduction strategies increasingly important, requiring all relevant departments and emergency services to work in close coordination.
The adviser highlighted the role of modern technology, early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms in strengthening the province’s ability to deal with natural disasters.
He said PDMA’s preparedness and response operations were central to minimising losses, while Rescue 1122’s timely emergency services played a vital role in saving lives.
He also stressed the importance of effective coordination among PDMA, Rescue 1122 and mobile health units to ensure a more efficient response during emergencies and improve the delivery of assistance to affected populations.
Meanwhile, the director-general of PDMA highlighted the need to address disaster risks before they turn into emergencies, urging greater attention to hazard identification, preventive planning and safety measures, particularly in the construction sector.
He called on citizens to take into account the potential impacts of heavy rainfall, flooding and extreme heat when building homes and other structures.
The selection of construction sites should also ensure that natural floodwater channels remain unobstructed, helping reduce threats to human life and property, he said.
The PDMA chief stressed that safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly construction practices were essential to reducing communities’ exposure to climate-related hazards.
Under Essrani’s supervision, he added, Sindh PDMA was focusing on the use of modern scientific technologies for risk assessment, early warning and disaster preparedness, with the aim of improving its capacity to respond to emergencies.
Protecting lives and ensuring timely provision of relief to disaster-hit communities remained PDMA’s foremost priorities, Shah said.
The official’s messages highlighted the need to move beyond emergency response towards a more preventive approach, in which early warnings, informed construction decisions, institutional coordination and public preparedness form the first line of defence against natural disasters.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026