The recent floods have impacted nearly 3 million people across Pakistan, said Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He shared this during a Senate committee meeting on climate change chaired by Sherry Rehman. The committee reviewed the flood situation and relief efforts for affected communities.
Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed that the majority of those affected are in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Millions remain displaced in makeshift camps with limited access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare. The NDMA highlighted that over 50 glaciers are melting rapidly, raising flood risks near residential areas.
Despite forecasting rainfall, the chairman said Pakistan still lacks an effective early warning system. Sherry Rehman criticized that only 15% of allocated funds have been spent on early warning systems, while 30% of the budget for the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) project was consumed by administrative costs. She urged for public hearings and urgent mapping of vulnerable valleys.
The committee noted 24 valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face severe risks, with 36 critical sites needing immediate action. Officials admitted some warning towers were not installed timely, hindering timely alerts. The slow progress of the GLOF project since 2017 frustrated the committee members.
Chairperson Sherry Rehman urged the government to provide immediate financial aid to flood victims through the Benazir Income Support Program, similar to the 2022 floods. She called for activating international aid swiftly and ensuring transparent relief distribution, instead of delaying with budget debates.