Pakistan’s Glaciers Face Monitoring Gap

Nadeem Tanoli 

Islamabad: A Senate committee has expressed concern over major gaps in Pakistan’s glacier monitoring system, after being informed that only 350 monitoring devices are currently installed across a country that has around 13,500 glaciers.

The revelation raised questions about Pakistan’s preparedness to track glacier-related risks, including flash floods, glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and other climate-induced disasters, as lawmakers reviewed the performance and capacity of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Officials from NDMA and the National Emergencies Operation Center briefed the committee on ongoing climate monitoring efforts, early warning systems, and disaster response mechanisms. They said Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries and continues to face rising risks from heatwaves, droughts, and extreme rainfall events.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/ndma-issues-nationwide-alert-over-heavy-rain-flood-risks/

Despite existing systems, officials acknowledged that the current glacier monitoring infrastructure is insufficient to cover the country’s vast glacial landscape. They said additional technological investment and expansion of monitoring networks are urgently required.

The committee was also informed that above-normal temperatures are expected in parts of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab, while northern regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, face heightened risks of glacier-related flooding.

Lawmakers stressed that while forecasting and digital alert systems have improved, Pakistan’s disaster management framework still suffers from weak coordination between federal and provincial institutions.

Senator Anusha Rahman highlighted the need for stronger intergovernmental coordination, saying that timely response and information sharing are critical during emergencies.

NDMA officials informed the committee that coordination mechanisms, emergency stockpiles, and preparedness plans are in place to respond to disasters, while real-time monitoring tools and mobile-based alert systems are also being expanded.

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The committee also reviewed technological solutions presented by international stakeholders, including a US-based company that demonstrated sensor technology designed to provide early flood warnings.

However, lawmakers emphasized that technology alone is not enough without strong institutional coordination, timely decision-making, and effective ground response.

During the session, NDMA Chairman informed the committee that 350 glacier monitoring devices have been installed under a project supported by the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP), but said coverage remains far below what is required for effective nationwide monitoring.

The matter was referred to the Ministry of Climate Change, with recommendations to convene a joint technical meeting of relevant stakeholders to assess gaps and improve glacier and flood monitoring capacity.

The committee also underlined that climate change is no longer a distant threat for Pakistan, but an ongoing crisis already affecting millions through floods, heatwaves, and water-related disasters.

Chairman Senator Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan urged urgent reforms in disaster preparedness systems, stressing that stronger coordination and faster response mechanisms are essential to reduce human and economic losses.