PESHAWAR: Pakistan is stepping up efforts to protect vulnerable communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and other climate-related disasters and thats why 286 early warning systems being installed under a $37 million project.
The systems are being developed across 24 vulnerable valleys, with 18 located in Gilgit-Baltistan and six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan. The GLOF-II project is aimed at improving disaster preparedness by providing timely warnings to communities living in areas at risk from sudden floods caused by melting glaciers and overflowing glacial lakes.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six vulnerable valleys are covered by the project. The province will also receive additional support through other initiatives. One early warning system is included under the Sustainable Action for Ecosystem Restoration in Pakistan (SAFER) project, while separate systems are planned for Buner and Shangla, with one in each district.
Gilgit-Baltistan will receive the larger share of the GLOF-II programme, covering 18 vulnerable valleys. Four additional early warning systems are also planned for the region under the SAFER project.
The government is also working on glacier monitoring and preservation in both regions. A proposed Regional Glaciers Preservation Initiative includes the use of satellite monitoring, advanced sensors, improved data sharing and expanded multi-hazard warning systems.
According to the document, a Technical Committee on GLOF Risk Reduction was established in May 2026 to improve coordination among institutions dealing with climate and flood risks.
The early warning systems under GLOF-II will eventually be handed over to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for operation and maintenance. Meanwhile, the National Adaptation Plan project is assessing early warning systems already installed across the country to identify gaps and improve their effectiveness.
The government is also pursuing the UNDP’s Tailored Intelligence for Actionable Early Warning System, aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to prepare for and respond to climate-related hazards.
Together, the initiatives are expected to improve early warnings, climate monitoring and disaster preparedness in the vulnerable mountainous communities of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Read also: Melting Glaciers: PDMA Warns of Imminent GLOF Threat in KP
