Islamabad 4 August: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the urgent establishment of an advanced weather alert and early warning system for Gilgit-Baltistan to better protect tourist destinations and vulnerable populations from climate-induced disasters.
Chairing a high-level meeting on recent floods and ongoing rehabilitation in Gilgit-Baltistan, the prime minister emphasized the need for a forecasting and monitoring center jointly operated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Climate Change.
“Local communities must be relocated away from natural waterways, and early warning systems must be in place before the next monsoon,” he said, while stressing the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure and improved emergency preparedness in the mountainous region.
READ MORE: Massive Land Slides & Flooding in Gilgit- Baltistan
Sharif also directed a comprehensive survey of infrastructure damage, the immediate restoration of communication links, and expedited relief efforts for those impacted by the July 21 cloudbursts in Thak-Babusar, Thor, Kundus, and Ishkoman. Over 600 individuals were rescued, and damaged roads were swiftly reopened.
The rescue operation included five tent villages, 10 helicopters, and two C-130 aircraft mobilized by the Pakistan Army, NDMA, GBDMA, police, and health workers. The Ministry of Communications reported significant damage to roads and bridges, prompting the prime minister to order all reconstruction to be climate-resilient.
Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, the prime minister said, “Despite contributing almost zero emissions, Pakistan remains among the top ten countries most affected by climate-related disasters.”
He called for full cooperation between NDMA and the Ministry of Climate Change to complete the installation of an early warning system for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) within two months, with third-party validation of the system’s effectiveness.
Sharif also instructed the Minister for Water Resources to remain in Gilgit-Baltistan to finalize plans for improved water management in the region.
Federal ministers, the Governor and Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chairman NDMA Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
