Since June 26, 2025, heavy monsoon rains have become even worse because of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), causing major flooding in Pakistan. Officials are watching closely in ten districts as water coming from upstream and full reservoirs raises the risk of flooding along the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers.
About 24,000 people have been moved out of flood-prone areas. More than 300 relief camps have been set up, but not many people are going there because they are worried about their animals and about schools reopening. Hospitals are seeing more cases of skin infections, malaria, fever, and snake bites, which are going beyond what local medical facilities can handle. The northern areas are still dealing with the worst effects. In Buner and Shangla, 479 people have died, and over 4,000 homes have been damaged, with 861 completely destroyed. Around 674 schools have been affected. Landslides and broken bridges are making it hard to reach these areas, so there is an urgent need to clear debris, improve water and sanitation, support health services, and help people get back on their feet. Glacial lake outburst floods and other related dangers are getting worse. On August 22, a GLOF in Ghizer damaged 211 homes and killed nine people. Diamer had 408 homes damaged and nine deaths. Water systems, bridges, power plants, and irrigation channels were heavily damaged, showing how important it is to focus on recovery and building resilience in these areas.
The provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are suffering the most from this disaster, with entire villages submerged and buildings destroyed. People are dealing with serious health problems because of the floods. One person said, “The whole house was under water. There was nothing left”. This kind of situation happened again in 2022, when floods affected 33 million people and caused over $30 billion in damage, with huge needs for recovery. As climate change gets worse, Pakistan, which is responsible for less than 1% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, is facing a major threat to its future. Here’s a full plan that puts people first to help Pakistan avoid constant flooding. Pakistan’s location makes it very vulnerable to natural disasters. It has the largest amount of glacier ice outside the poles, and this ice is melting faster because of the planet heating up. The melting glaciers, along with unpredictable monsoon rains, are causing more flooding. Scientists say that monsoon rains are likely to get stronger in the future, so this is not a problem that can be fixed in just one year.
Forests, which naturally help prevent floods, now cover just 5.23% of Pakistan’s land. Illegal cutting of trees and bad management of forests have made the soil more vulnerable to erosion, making it harder for the land to hold onto water. Between 2001 and 2024, Pakistan lost 95.3 square kilometers of forest, which is about half the size of Islamabad. Poor drainage, illegal building on flood-prone areas, and not enough storage for water have turned heavy rains into major disasters. In cities like Karachi and Sialkot, clogged sewers and unplanned city growth have made flooding almost certain. Since more than 44% of people in Pakistan live in poverty, many don’t have the means to leave their homes or rebuild after floods. Planting trees like eucalyptus and mangroves can greatly help in reducing the risk of flooding. Mangroves alone can soak up 39% of stormwater. Projects like Recharge Pakistan work to bring back 35,126 acres of damaged forests and wetlands, helping nature manage water better. Building recharge basins, fixing water paths, and making retention areas can work along with regular infrastructure. These actions not only help prevent floods but also improve groundwater supply and make areas more prepared for droughts. It’s also important to use advanced radar systems and automatic weather stations to make weather predictions more accurate. Setting up community-based warning systems, like sirens in remote hills, ensures that alerts reach people, especially in places where internet or phone signals are weak.
Regularly clean storm drains to stop them from getting clogged. Cities like Sialkot need to focus on managing waste properly to prevent sewage from mixing with floodwater. Build both big and small dams to hold extra rainwater. Right now, Pakistan’s dams don’t have enough capacity to deal with heavy monsoon rains. Create laws that stop people from building within 200 feet of rivers. As one expert said, “Nobody follows the laws. Every street is getting more crowded”. Make sure India and Pakistan share data to manage water flow between countries properly. The recent pause in the treaty has made flooding worse in Punjab. Pakistan should push for its fair share of climate finance. The Loss and Damage Fund, set up at COP27, should be used to help with recovery and building resilience. Support local initiatives, such as the ones in Sialkot, where volunteers use boats to bring food and supplies to affected areas. One volunteer said, “We have no other choice. The government doesn’t have enough resources”. Train farmers in techniques that help crops survive dry weather and offer other ways to earn money so they don’t rely on activities that are easily damaged by floods. Pakistan’s flood crisis shows how unfair the effects of climate change can be. Even though the challenges are big, mixing natural solutions, new technology, and helping communities take charge can lead to a safer future.
Projected changes in the climate are likely to bring more variation in the monsoon and winter rains, as well as faster melting of glaciers. This could lead to more unpredictable river flows from year to year and even within the same year, increasing the risk of serious floods in the future. To deal with this, Pakistan needs to take both structural and non-structural steps to protect against floods. One important thing is to increase the country’s ability to store water, which can help reduce the impact of extreme floods. The two big reservoirs, Tarbela and Mangla, played a major role in lowering flood levels during 2010. However, smaller dams can help with local irrigation but are not effective for generating large amounts of electricity or managing major floods. Alongside building structures, we must also focus on non-structural methods. This includes improving our ability to predict and warn about floods, which is currently not strong enough. Other important steps are restoring wetlands, planning urban areas carefully, improving preparedness and emergency response, and better coordination between different provincial and federal agencies responsible for water and flood management. These actions can greatly improve Pakistan’s ability to handle floods and protect people and property.
