Mountain regions in Pakistan face flood risk: Government steps up efforts to prevent loss of lives among local communities

ISLAMABAD: Rising temperatures in Pakistan’s northern areas are leading to formation of glacial lakes in the glacial areas, exacerbating socioeconomic and environmental risks in the mountainous areas. However, efforts are being expedited by the government to mitigate risks to the lives and livelihoods of the mountain communities in Gilgi-Baltistan and Chitral district by enhancing flood-resilience of the mountainous areas and communities in northern areas. Environmentalist and media spokesperson at the Climate Change Ministry said that after successful completion of the first phase of the five-year Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) project in 2015, the United Nation’s Green Climate Fund approved in October 2016 an amount of $36 million (Dh132 million) funding for second phase of the GLOF project.