The United Kingdom (UK) has pledged an additional Rs454 million (£1.2 million) in humanitarian support for anticipatory flood response in Sindh, raising its total aid for Pakistan’s flood preparedness and relief efforts to Rs958 million (£2.53 million).
According to a press release issued by the British High Commission in Islamabad, the funding is being deployed urgently as heavy floods are forecast to hit parts of Sindh in the coming days. “With floods predicted to hit Sindh imminently, the UK is acting swiftly, in support of the Pakistan Government coordinated response, to help communities prepare before disaster strikes,” the statement read.
Every dollar spent on prevention saves up to seven dollars in response. More importantly, lives are saved, and destruction is avoided. That’s why we’ve announced £1.2 million to help communities in Sindh prepare before floods strike.https://t.co/USHPFj1iiK
— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottUK) September 4, 2025
The additional funding will be channelled through non-governmental organisations operating in Sindh, with a focus on early warning systems, identification of vulnerable households, community evacuations, pre-positioning of critical relief items, livestock protection, and the setup of evacuation centres.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG, OBE, highlighted the importance of preparedness in disaster management, stating, “Sindh is in a critical window to prepare and reduce the impact of the upcoming floods. For every dollar spent on prevention, up to seven dollars are saved in response. More importantly, lives are saved, and destruction is avoided.”
The latest allocation complements the £1.33 million (Rs503.6 million) in UK aid announced on August 22, which is supporting flood preparedness and early response efforts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
That support includes dry food rations, search and rescue operations, mobile medical camps, rehabilitation of water systems, restoration of irrigation channels, and assistance for livelihoods and agriculture.
Read More: UN chief grieves Pakistan flood losses, pledges humanitarian aid
In addition to direct aid, the UK has also contributed to Pakistan’s Start Ready Disaster Risk Financing system, a mechanism designed to release pre-arranged funding when disaster risks are high. So far, £500,000 (Rs189 million) has been disbursed through this system, benefiting over 20,000 people across Punjab, Sindh, and K-P to mitigate the humanitarian impact of future floods.
The UK’s humanitarian assistance is part of a broader international push to improve disaster preparedness in Pakistan, a country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly extreme weather events such as monsoon-induced flooding.
Earlier on Tuesday, The European Union (EU) announced Rs350 million (€1.05 million) emergency assistance to support victims of devastating floods in Pakistan that had claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands displaced and many missing.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims and all those affected by this disaster,” the EU said in a statement.
The package includes life-saving health services, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support to prevent outbreaks of disease, and cash assistance for the most vulnerable families to cover basic needs. However, the funding would be channelled through humanitarian partner organisations.
“The EU remains committed to standing in solidarity with the people of Pakistan during this critical time,” the statement added.
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