The COVID-19 Pandemic and Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping in Pakistan: New Insights for Strategic Management and Policy Implications

This study aimed to estimate the urban social vulnerability of Islamabad, considering twenty-one climatic, social, economic, and institutional indicators as drivers of vulnerability, with a particular emphasis on the COVID-19 outbreak. This study conducted a survey using a structured questionnaire to measure vulnerability. The sample size for this study was 438 households of 22 urban union councils at random, considering social, demographic, economic, and physical aspects of vulnerability. The results of the principal component analysis showed that union councils of F-Sectors were the least vulnerable, with the lowest vulnerability ranking of UC 25 (F/6) at 362 and the highest vulnerability ranking of Jhangi Saidan, UC-45 at 510. Interestingly, it can be observed that G-Sectors’ average vulnerability ranking of 500 is higher than F-Sectors and I-Sectors of Islamabad. Densely populated areas of G-sectors and I-sectors had higher vulnerability to high COVID-19 exposure. The study concludes that the highly dense population and composition, lack of healthcare provision in the slums, and low income have been the main reasons for the COVID-19 outbreak in urban areas. Healthcare facilities can reduce the vulnerability of those marginalized segments of society who cannot afford to cope with the changing climate.