GILGIT – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Gilgit on August 4, 2025, to assess the widespread destruction caused by heavy monsoon rains, flash floods, and landslides across Gilgit-Baltistan, and to oversee immediate relief efforts in the region. The provincial government has declared a state of emergency in 37 flood‑hit areas spanning eight districts.
During a high‑level briefing with Governor Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, the prime minister was informed of significant loss of life, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and damage to roads and bridges. The region has reported at least ten fatalities, including tourists swept away on the Babusar Highway, with several others still missing. The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed that more than 500 houses and at least 27 bridges were destroyed or damaged in the affected areas.
Shehbaz expressed sorrow over the loss of life and reiterated the federal government’s solidarity with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He warned that Pakistan—despite its minimal carbon footprint—continues to face escalating impacts from climate change and stressed the urgency of enhancing disaster preparedness.
Directives were issued to activate the National Disaster Management Authority as a central coordinating body, and federal agencies were instructed to collaborate closely with regional authorities to accelerate rescue and relief operations. Shehbaz directed emergency restoration of vital road and communication links to ensure that aid reaches isolated areas without delay.
The prime minister also received updates on local development initiatives, including the planned establishment of a Danish school to improve educational infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Nationwide, flooding since June 26 has claimed 299 lives—140 of them children—and injured 715 people. Over 1,600 homes have been destroyed or damaged across the country, and at least 428 livestock have been lost. Government figures highlight that the monsoon’s impact is most severe in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Shehbaz pledged that a comprehensive federal relief package will soon be announced to support recovery and rehabilitation. He emphasised the need for long‑term resilience planning and called for an urgent overhaul of the early warning systems managed by the Meteorological Department to better protect vulnerable populations in future events.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.