ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, has cautioned that Pakistan’s glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, intensifying the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, he said that global temperature rise remains the primary driver of this crisis. Pakistan, with over 7,000 glaciers, is witnessing their rapid disappearance, which will have far-reaching consequences for water security and flood management.
The NDMA chief explained that this year’s monsoon season began two weeks earlier than usual, and future rainfall is projected to increase further. He added that donor nations offering disaster relief are themselves grappling with climate pressures. Despite limited resources, Pakistan’s data collection and forecasting capacity have improved, with NDMA achieving 98% forecast accuracy, surpassing even some international benchmarks.
Lt Gen Malik highlighted that river flows in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir have risen this year, while Pakistan has not received any water data from Indian dams. To manage flood pressure, embankments were intentionally breached at Qadirabad, Sadhnai, and Jhang. Meanwhile, a flood surge of around 500,000 cusecs is expected today at Guddu Barrage.
