2026 Could Bring 22% Heavier Rains: NDMA

News Desk 

Islamabad: Pakistan may face even more destructive monsoon rains and flooding next year, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned on Tuesday, citing a 22 percent increase in rainfall this season and alarming signs of climate stress.

Briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said the country had already endured seven monsoon spells in 2025, with an eighth expected between September 2 and 11. This year’s rains left 800 people dead and 1,100 injured, while officials fear 2026 could bring even greater devastation.

“Next year will be more dangerous in terms of floods,” Lt Gen Malik cautioned lawmakers.

Melting Glaciers Pose Existential Threat

The NDMA chief highlighted that 45 percent of Pakistan’s 7,500 glaciers are melting rapidly, a crisis directly linked to rising temperatures. If global warming reaches two degrees Celsius, up to 65 percent of these glaciers could vanish within five decades, threatening Pakistan with severe drought and famine.

“These floods are already connected to glacial melt. Without glaciers, Pakistan could face a future without water,” he warned.

PAC Criticizes NDMA’s Limited Role

Lawmakers, led by committee chairman Junaid Akbar, questioned the NDMA’s effectiveness, arguing that district administrations and Rescue 1122 perform most of the relief work. “Is NDMA’s job only to lift dead bodies and issue weather alerts?” one member asked, pressing for greater accountability and action.

Technology and Preparedness Lacking

Lt Gen Malik admitted Pakistan still relies heavily on ground-based monitoring, urging investment in remote sensing systems and meteorological satellites to improve forecasting. He also recommended restrictions on tourism during peak monsoon season, noting repeated incidents of stranded buses and vehicles despite advance warnings.

Growing Climate Crisis

With population growth accelerating, the NDMA warned that Pakistan could become the world’s third most populous country by 2050, further compounding the impact of climate disasters. Malik stressed that only early warning systems, improved technology, and strict enforcement of safety measures can help save lives in the face of worsening climate change.