NDMA Warns Monsoon Pressure to Persist Till Next Month

Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider, has said that the ongoing monsoon system will remain active in the country until September 10.

Briefing lawmakers on the current situation, he warned that the impact of climate change in Pakistan is becoming increasingly dangerous. According to him, the intensity of floods could rise by 22% in the coming year. He cautioned that if global temperatures continue to climb, glaciers in the northern areas may disappear faster, creating severe environmental and economic challenges.

General Haider shared that water reserves are being closely monitored. So far, around 150,000 people have been evacuated from the Sutlej River region, while 2,100 tons of relief goods have been dispatched to affected districts. He added that the government will work on rebuilding infrastructure damaged in Gilgit-Baltistan.

He expressed concern that many people continue to live in waterways and other high-risk zones. Authorities, he said, plan to evacuate low-lying areas across the country to minimize future losses. Rescue operations in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were praised for their swift response, alongside the contributions of Pakistani welfare organizations.

The NDMA Chairman further explained that complete data on weather events from June 26 to the present has been compiled. He warned that the coming year could be even more difficult and urged collective efforts to safeguard the country’s glaciers, the second largest concentration in the world.

During the session, an MNA questioned whether the NDMA could issue early warnings. General Haider replied that forecasting in advance is primarily the responsibility of the Meteorological Department, while NDMA focuses on damage assessments and relief. He noted that Pakistan has about 7,500 glaciers, many of which are melting rapidly in the north.

He also cautioned that once glaciers fully melt, Pakistan could face drought-like conditions, bringing serious risks to food security and water availability.