PMD Warns of Flash Floods, GLOFs, Landslides in Monsoon Outlook

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to maintain close coordination with provinces to avert any emergency situation during the ongoing monsoon rains. The directives were issued during a meeting with NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the prime minister emphasized strengthening coordination with provincial governments and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs). During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the country’s preparedness to respond to any emergency situation arising from the monsoon rains. He was also informed about progress in fully operationalising the early warning system and enhancing cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change in this regard.

Monsoon rains, which fall across the region from June to September, are crucial for replenishing water supplies but can also trigger deadly floods, landslides, and displacement, particularly in vulnerable areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) seasonal outlook indicates that Gilgit-Baltistan and adjoining parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are likely to receive near-normal rainfall during the 2026 monsoon season.

The outlook also states that seasonal temperatures are expected to remain above normal across most parts of the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH) region, with relatively larger positive temperature anomalies likely over the eastern parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and adjoining areas. Warmer conditions may accelerate seasonal snow and glacier melt and contribute to enhanced river flows during the monsoon period.