Pakistani authorities advocate for a unified strategy that combines climate and health considerations within a broad national plan
In a significant move towards enhancing health security and resilience, Pakistan has embarked on a nationwide rollout of the One Health Units as part of its Pandemic Fund initiative, launched in mid-2025. The initiative, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Asian Development Bank (ADB), is led by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, with the National Institute of Health (NIH) serving as the secretariat [1][2][3].
The One Health Units aim to unify human, animal, and environmental health sectors, providing a coordinated cross-sectoral response to health threats, particularly zoonotic diseases and climate-sensitive health risks [1][2][3]. Key efforts and strategies include robust disease surveillance and early warning systems, cross-sectoral data sharing, workforce training, and alignment with national and international frameworks such as Pakistan’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and the International Health Regulations (IHR) [1][2][3].
The initiative was officially launched via a high-level national consultation in Islamabad in June 2025, gathering over 70 participants from various ministries, provincial representatives, and development partners to discuss establishing One Health Units and coordinating surveillance and response mechanisms across Pakistan [1][2]. The meeting, held at COMSTECH in Islamabad, also reaffirmed the One Health Pakistan initiative, a national framework linking human, animal, and environmental health [1][2].
The session focused on building a climate-resilient health workforce and strengthening inter-agency coordination, while other speakers warned of the dangers of unchecked pollution accelerating zoonotic disease outbreaks and weak institutional coordination undermining early warning systems [1]. Participants agreed to invest in integrated surveillance systems, scale up climate-resilient health planning nationwide, and create dedicated One Health Units within provincial and federal departments [1].
Moreover, the One Health approach explicitly considers climate-driven disease spillovers by integrating environmental health concerns into pandemic preparedness and response, reflecting a commitment to tackle health threats exacerbated by climate change [2][3]. This multisectoral strategy is designed to streamline disease surveillance and climate-health response planning by integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems under a coordinated national framework supported by international partners and aligned with global health security norms [1][2][3].
In conclusion, Pakistan's One Health Units initiative is a significant step towards strengthening health security and resilience by integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems under a coordinated national framework. The initiative aligns with global health security norms, emphasises climate-resilient health planning, and is supported by international partners such as the WHO, FAO, ADB, and various development agencies [1][2][3].
- The One Health Units in Pakistan's initiative not only focuses on zoonotic diseases and climate-sensitive health risks, but also acknowledges the importance of environmental health in pandemic preparedness and response, as a means to tackle health threats exacerbated by climate change.
- As part of the One Health Units' strategies, there is a commitment to invest in integrated surveillance systems and scale up climate-resilient health planning nationwide, with the goal of creating dedicated One Health Units within provincial and federal departments.
- The One Health approach in Pakistan's initiative emphasizes health-and-wellness and medical-conditions, with key efforts in robust disease surveillance, cross-sectoral data sharing, and workforce training to ensure a climate-resilient health workforce.
- The One Health Units aim to provide a coordinated cross-sectoral response to health threats by unifying human, animal, and environmental health sectors, mirroring a global move towards health security and resilience supported by international partners like the WHO, FAO, and ADB.
- In line with global health security norms such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and Pakistan’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), the initiative aims to promote a culture of health and wellness that considers the interplay between health, science, art, news, environment, and climate-change, thus fostering a world where all these aspects work together for a healthier future.
