ISLAMABAD: As monsoon rains flooded urban centres and heatwaves strained rural livelihoods across Pakistan, a high-level consultative session in the capital quietly attempted to address a larger, interconnected challenge: how can the country strengthen its public health resilience amid escalating climate and environmental threats?
Convened at COMSTECH’s conference room and jointly organised by the Health Services Academy and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), the meeting brought together diverse voices — from UN agencies and development banks to environmental NGOs and health experts — all echoing a singular call: Pakistan must move from fragmented responses to an integrated, ‘One Health’ approach.
But amid the consensus, critical questions emerged.
How committed are Pakistan’s institutions to coordinated action beyond symbolic declarations? Can fragile provincial structures handle the complex, multisectoral demands of the One Health model? And will resource-strapped departments manage to build the capacity needed to foresee and respond to zoonotic threats and environmental health emergencies?
A Framework in Focus — But Is It Feasible?
The One Health initiative, which emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is being positioned as Pakistan’s strategic blueprint for pandemic preparedness and climate-resilient health governance. While its goals are ambitious, the ground realities are sobering.
Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, National Coordinator of the project, laid out a vision of unified surveillance and swift cross-agency response. ‘Pakistan can no longer afford to treat human, animal, and environmental health in isolation,’ he said. ‘We must work together under a unified platform.’
The urgency was echoed by keynote speaker Dr. Nelson Azeem, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health, who stated: ‘We must reaffirm our collective commitment to the One Health Pakistan initiative. The challenges we face are interlinked, and so must be our response.’
But speeches aside, implementation will demand overcoming entrenched institutional silos, political inertia, and systemic underfunding — issues that have historically plagued national health and climate strategies.
Climate Risks Amplifying Health Threats
Muhammad Asif Sahibzada, Director General at MoCC&EC, didn’t mince words: rising pollution, biodiversity loss, and unchecked urbanisation are fuelling a surge in zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Without institutional reform, he warned, early warning systems could fail, and response capacity would remain dangerously insufficient.
‘There is a pressing need to institutionalise the One Health framework across all levels of government,’ he said. ‘This requires strong policy enforcement, cross-sectoral training, and community engagement.’
But that, too, raises a question: in a country still struggling with basic primary healthcare delivery, can such sweeping reforms be sustained?
Proposals and Pathways Forward
Some speakers offered concrete proposals. Muhammad Azim Khoso, Director (Urban Affairs) at MoCC&EC, suggested setting up dedicated One Health Units within federal and provincial departments, linked via a central interface. These could be funded through development budgets or international pandemic preparedness funds and tasked with monitoring environmental disease triggers in real-time.
But even well-meaning plans can flounder without political will or financial backing. Will provinces include these units in their Annual Development Plans? And who ensures follow-through?
The People Factor: Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust
Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Deputy Director and advocacy specialist at MoCC&EC, reminded the room that policies alone won’t solve the problem. For the initiative to take root, he said, it must build trust and visibility through smart outreach.
He called for tailored communication strategies, stakeholder mapping, and community mobilisation using both digital platforms and traditional media. ‘For the One Health initiative to succeed, advocacy efforts must be guided by clearly defined SMART goals, a targeted strategy, and capacity building through specialised training,’ he said.
Indeed, the challenge is not only one of policy but perception. How do you convince a community battling dengue outbreaks, failing crops, or livestock disease that these crises are connected — and that the solutions lie in inter-agency cooperation?
A Moment of Commitment — But Will It Be Sustained?
The consultative meeting ended on a note of resolve. Representatives from WHO, FAO, ADB, World Bank, and WWF-Pakistan offered technical guidance. Local stakeholders reaffirmed their support. But such meetings, however high-level, risk becoming echo chambers if not followed by measurable action.
Pakistan’s climate-health vulnerabilities are no longer hypothetical. From urban smog to rural vector-borne diseases, the threats are real and rising. The One Health Pakistan initiative may be the country’s best chance at building a unified front — but only if it transitions from concept to coordination, from promises to policy.
As the meeting concluded, one thing was clear: the time to act is now. The real question is — who will lead, who will fund, and who will stay the course?
