GB Officials Review Work On GLOF-II Project To Enhance Disaster Risk Management In The Region

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) and National Project Director of the GLOF-II Project Syed Mujtaba Hussain accompanied by Provincial Coordinator Abdul Basit, Director General of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) Kamal Uddin Qamar and other officials, here on Thursday visited various parts of Gilgit-Baltistan to assess the ongoing initiatives under the GLOF-II Project and address the challenges posed by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and enhance disaster risk management in the region. 

During the visit, the delegation engaged in productive meetings with the local communities wherein they sought valuable feedback about the ongoing project activities. The insights garnered from these discussions will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the project aligns with the needs and aspirations of the local communities further enhancing its effectiveness. 

Talking to the media, the Additional Secretary highlighted the alarming rise of over 3,000 lakes as a consequence of melting glaciers in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions of Pakistan. Among these, about 36 lakes have been identified as potentially hazardous due to the risk of GLOFs. In response to this critical situation, the Ministry of Climate Change has joined forces with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and secured financial support from the Green Climate Fund to implement the GLOF-II project. Valued at 36 million USD, the GLOF-II project is dedicated to Scaling-Up Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Reduction in Northern Pakistan.