The recent unprecedented deluge that ravaged mountainous regions and now surges through Pakistan’s plains, has left deep scars on Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab reshaping landscapes.
Since early July, relentless monsoon rains, sudden cloudbursts, and glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have killed more than 829 people and injured 1,116, while washing away 661km of roads and 238 bridges, damaging nearly 1,000 homes, schools and killing over 6,000 livestock.
Gilgit-Baltistan has borne the brunt of torrential rains, cloudbursts, and glacial lake disasters claiming 41 lives and displacing hundreds of people and washing away crop lands, orchards, communication, electricity and water supply infrastructures in three divisions of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The floods destroyed parts of the Karakoram Highway, Skardu-Jaglote Expressway, Shimshal and Chipursan jeep roads at multiple point, damaged 87 bridges, over 1,200 homes, schools, shops and religious places.
The most affected valleys included Khalti, Asumber, Dain, Talidas and Raushan in Ghizer District; Gulmit, Shimshal, Chipursan, and Hasanabad in Hunza District; Nager district’s Hoper valley; Danyore, Haramosh and Bagrote valleys; Diamer’s Thak and Uchar Nullahs; Shiger, Ghanche, and Rondu districts in Baltistan Division.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s northern mountainous districts – Buner, Shangla, Swabi, Bajour, Kaghan, Naran and Swat are the hardest-hit districts of the province with reported 479 deaths and severe destruction to villages, roads, and bridges, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir reels from deadly cloudbursts and landslides, with 29 fatalities and 2,010 homes affected.
Punjab now faces catastrophic riverine flooding as surges from the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers force mass evacuations. Over 1 million people have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands remain at risk as flooded rivers are swelling.
Relief and rescue operations are ongoing, with over half a million people evacuated to temporary shelters, but experts warn that rising waters, and collapsing infrastructure are heightening risks of disease outbreaks and further displacement in the days ahead.
The unprecedented floods are not just a natural disaster; they are a stark reminder reflecting the consequences of our disregard for nature. For centuries, our forefathers honoured the wisdom of the land. They built homes on safer ground, far from streams and rivers that could swell with fury. They planted trees, cared for pastures, and lived in harmony with nature’s rhythm.
Today, in the name of “development” and short-term gains, often for the benefits of a privileged few, we have allowed elite capture of our landscapes, building resorts, and huge concrete structures, on fragile land. We have blocked natural waterways, and felled the trees that once anchored our soil. But nature always reclaims its space. And with each passing decade, now accelerated by climate change, it reminds us often with devastating force, of this unchanging truth.
Although climate change is a global phenomenon, there are certain local factors including bad governance, unregulated tourism, unplanned construction that exacerbate glacier melt and lake outburst leading to flash floods. Erratic weather patterns are now reshaping life in Gilgit-Baltistan. For instance, this year, even in the high-altitude valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan wheat ripened earlier in August, a phenomenon that signals how rapidly the climate change is altering weather pattern. Such changes, once unimaginable, are now our lived reality.
The question arises: how should we respond?
Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by deforestation, uneven and unsustainable development. Each year, it loses around 27,000 hectares of natural forest, with the long-term average of over 40,000 hectares annually during the past two decades.
There have been some positive efforts, such as the ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which restored 350,000 hectares of forest between 2014 and 2017, and the ongoing ‘Ten Billion Tree Tsunami’, which had planted over 1.4 billion trees by 2022, covering nearly 1.36 million acres.
However, even as tree planting initiatives continue, urbanisation proceeds unchecked, with cement and concrete dominating our cities. Pakistan’s cement production now exceeds 83 million tonnes annually, and a single modest 5-marla house consumes more than 540 bags of cement, showing how far we’ve strayed from sustainable building practices.
For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, the current crisis is a wake-up call calls for collective reflection. It highlights the fragility of our environment and the urgency of action. Instead of relying solely on government or international aid, we must take responsibility at the local level.
Restoring the stalled local government to empower people at grassroots level is a critical step toward addressing both environmental and socio-political challenges. It will allow the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and practices, which have long been effective in disaster mitigation and resource management as indigenous communities often have a deep understanding of local ecosystems, weather patterns, and sustainable land-use practices. By integrating these insights into modern governance, communities can develop more resilient strategies against climate-related catastrophes.
Moreover, the involvement of local governments can also ensure that communities have the power to make decisions tailored to their specific needs, rather than relying on top-down policies that may not consider their unique circumstances. Empowering local authorities can lead to more effective management of natural resources, better protection of rights, and stronger responses to environmental crises.
We must stop deforestation by protecting existing forests, halting illegal logging, and planting new trees to mitigate floods and landslides.
Regulating tourism, reducing carbon emissions, and conserving resources through reuse and recycling are equally important.
Construction should avoid riverbanks and fragile land, following the wisdom of our ancestors who prioritised safety over show. Eco-friendly building designs and materials should replace heavy reliance on cement.
We must strengthen our bond with nature by teaching children that trees, water, and soil are sacred. A society that values nature will protect it for generations.
The floods are a tragedy, but they must also be a wake-up call. If we fail to learn, we will continue to mourn. But if we choose to act, planting, conserving, reusing, and respecting nature, we can honour those we have lost by building a safer, more sustainable future.
Raheem Sherazi is a Dubai-based social media and environmental activist who actively writes about and highlights critical issues in Pakistan.
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