Ibex Media Network

The Prime Minister has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the functionality of Early Warning Systems (EWS) installed under the GLOF-II project in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and to conduct a comprehensive review of the project since its inception.

According to an official notification, the committee will be headed by the Secretary Cabinet Division and includes the Secretaries of Water Resources and IT & Telecom, the Chairman of NDMA, environmental expert Rizwan Mehboob, climate expert Saleem Hassan Ali, and disaster management specialist Usman Qazi.

The committee has been tasked to assess the project’s effectiveness in mitigating glacial lake outburst flood risks, examine gaps in design, ex*****on, governance, and financial sustainability, and review procurement processes and third-party audit findings. It will also recommend remedial measures and fix responsibility for any irregularities in the project’s implementation.

The development comes as concerns over the performance of early warning systems in the region were highlighted, including in investigative reports by Ibex Media Network (IMN).

The GLOF-II project, supported by international climate financing, was designed to protect vulnerable mountain communities in northern Pakistan from increasing climate-related risks.

Heavy rains triggered flash floods in the Mushti Mela area of Orakzai district, causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

According to reports, dozens of shops and houses were swept away, while several vehicles and motorcycles were also destroyed in the floodwaters.

The flooding comes amid a broader weather system affecting parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, with rain and thunderstorms reported in multiple districts.

Meanwhile, low-lying areas in Lahore remained waterlogged after morning showers, even as dry weather has been forecast for most parts of Punjab.