Climate Emergencies 

Pakistan experiences frequent natural disasters including floods, droughts, and earthquakes due toits geographical location. As a result of climate change, these events are becoming increasingly regular, affecting farming, water, and impacting the living standards of communities. Muslim Aid Pakistan is working hard to respond to these various emergencies, implementing early response and relief projects providing food, cash transfers, shelter and clean water, through to restoring livelihoods, homes and WASH infrastructure during recovery and rehabilitation phases.  

Importantly, Muslim Aid Pakistan is dedicated to the localisation agenda and aims to strengthen disaster risk preparedness by conducting preparedness interventions, capacitating local communities regarding Community-Based Disaster Risk Management and pre-financing interventions in disaster-prone areas across the country.

Livelihood

Pakistan's diverse livelihoods sector faces contrasting challenges. Agriculture, while crucial for many, grapples with water scarcity, outdated methods, and climate vulnerability, threatening yield and sustainability. Agricultural accounts for 60 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, and more than 8 million rural families are engaged in livestock activities, deriving more than 35–40 percent of their income from this sector. 

Muslim Aid delivers activities in Sindh, KP, and Balochistan, aimed at addressing the food security and livelihood needs of these regions through our livelihoods program. These include supporting farmers to promote the Agriculture land productivity through introducing the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques, water management & conservation for irrigation and livestock. Furthermore, we provide capacity building in livelihoods such as Agriculture, Livestock, vocational skill development, business & enterprise development, value addition, and Cash Transfer programmes promoting local capacities, ultimately generating employment opportunities for the local communities. 

Education 

Pakistan's education journey is marked by both progress and persistent hurdles. While enrolment rates have climbed, concerns about quality, infrastructure, and equal access remain. In rural areas and among marginalized communities, gaps in infrastructure and resources create barriers to education. The education system itself faces challenges. Outdated curricula, limited teacher training, and insufficient resources can hinder learning outcomes. Additionally, gender disparities persist, with girls facing unique obstacles like cultural norms and safety concerns.  

Despite these challenges, positive shifts are underway. Muslim Aid Pakistan is working to train teachers, provide scholastic materials, renovate school infrastructure, encourage girls' enrolment and provide medical and psychological support to pave the way for a brighter future. Continued investment, ensuring equitable access across regions and communities, and comprehensive reforms are crucial to elevate educational standards and offer inclusive, quality education for every child in Pakistan. 

Health and WASH 

Pakistan's healthcare journey reflects a tale of two sides. While progress echoes in advancements in infrastructure and services, achieving equitable access remains a distant dream, especially in remote areas. Funding/resource constraints, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of skilled healthcare heroes pose obstacles to comprehensive care. Infectious diseases like TB and hepatitis continue to cast a long shadow, while new challenges like non-communicable diseases and mental health issues demand urgent attention. Maternal and child health face uphill battles with high maternal mortality and child malnutrition. But amidst these challenges, hope glimmers through government initiatives, collaborating INGOs/NGOs, and international partnerships.  

Muslim Aid Pakistan is working to augment Government efforts with the provision of sustainable water solutions alongside safely managed sanitation and good hygiene through the rehabilitation and construction of solarized water points and latrines. Better access to clean water, use of latrines, and increased health promotion at community, schools, and health facilities will lead to improved health conditions of the targeted communities.  

Sustained investment, bridging the access gap, nurturing the healthcare workforce, and strengthening preventive measures are crucial ingredients for a healthier future for all Pakistanis.

Housing

In Pakistan, there is a large disparity in access to safe and affordable housing between rural and urban areas. Cities are overpopulated, and people end up with makeshift homes in areas without basic necessities such as water and electricity. However, in rural areas, houses are often old and in a poor condition, lacking necessary provisions and unable to withstand the increasing climate related disasters. 

In 2022, 8 million people lost their homes due to the flash floods and resided in temporary shelters (i.e., tents) for over one year. Muslim Aid Pakistan continues to implement shelter programmes across the country, constructing disaster resilient homes, in collaboration with local communities, focused on building community capacity for resilience.