ISLAMABAD – The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a stark warning that the impacts of climate change in Pakistan are worsening, with risks projected to rise by 22% in the coming year.
NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider told the Public Accounts Committee that rising temperatures are putting Pakistan’s glaciers under severe threat, while more intense and prolonged monsoons are expected to strain water management systems.
He said the current monsoon season will last until September 10, with reservoirs under strict monitoring to manage inflows and prevent further flooding. So far, nearly 150,000 people have already been relocated from the Sutlej River belt due to rising flood risks.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, where flash floods and glacial melt have caused widespread damage, rehabilitation efforts are ongoing. The NDMA has dispatched 2,100 tons of relief supplies and urged urgent evacuation of families still residing in low-lying areas near water channels.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik warned that next year’s monsoon could be 30% stronger, starting two weeks earlier and bringing two to three extra spells of heavy rainfall, extending well beyond the usual period.
Experts say the warnings highlight the urgency for Pakistan to invest in climate resilience, early warning systems, and community preparedness as climate-driven disasters become more frequent.
