Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, has issued a stark warning that Pakistan’s glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, he highlighted the country’s growing vulnerability to climate-related disasters. He said the rise in global temperatures remains the primary driver of these rapid environmental changes, threatening water resources, agriculture, and communities living downstream.
Malik revealed that Pakistan, with more than 7,000 glaciers, is now facing the disappearance of many of these critical water reserves. He pointed out that this year’s monsoon season began two weeks earlier than usual and predicted that rainfall levels would continue to rise in the coming years. These shifts, he warned, would increase the frequency and intensity of floods, landslides, and other climate-related hazards that have already devastated several regions in recent years.
The NDMA chairman also noted that countries providing disaster management funding are themselves grappling with severe climate challenges, limiting their ability to offer significant assistance. He emphasized that Pakistan’s forecasting capabilities are reliable, claiming that NDMA’s predictions have proven to be 98 percent accurate. Despite this, he stressed the urgent need for improved preparedness and cross-border cooperation to handle the growing risks posed by climate change.
During the briefing, Malik expressed concern about the lack of data sharing from Indian dams, even as rivers flowing through Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab are carrying more water this year. This lack of transparency, he said, complicates flood management efforts and increases the risk to downstream populations. He urged regional collaboration and timely information sharing to better manage water flows and prevent potential disasters.
Furthermore, Malik disclosed that embankments at Qadirabad, Sadhnai, and Jhang were deliberately breached to ease pressure from rising floodwaters. He also warned of an incoming flood surge of 500,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage, highlighting the urgent need for readiness at vulnerable points. His remarks underscored the severity of the situation, urging swift and coordinated action to mitigate the looming threats of climate-induced disasters in Pakistan.