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ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt-Gen Inam Haider Malik informed a Senate committee on Tuesday that 350 sensor devices had been installed under a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project to monitor glaciers.
He, however, described the number as inadequate for a country with around 13,500 glaciers, stating that additional monitoring infrastructure was required to effectively cover Pakistan’s glaciers.
The NDMA chairman was speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat which was held at the NDMA Headquarters to receive a briefing on climate risks, disaster preparedness and early warning systems, says a press release.
The committee’s chairman Rana Mehmoodul Hassan then referred the matter to the Ministry of Climate Change with a recommendation to convene a joint technical meeting of all relevant stakeholders on the matter.
Officials of a US-based company Tollhawk briefed the committee about their sensor devices regarding early flood intimation to avoid the mass destruction.
The committee chairman underscored the need to bridge coordination gaps between federal and provincial authorities to ensure a more effective and timely response to disasters across the country.
The NDMA officials informed the committee that Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing increasing risks from heat-waves, glacier melting, droughts, flash floods, and other climate-induced disasters.
The committee was informed that the NDMA, in collaboration with national and international partners, continuously monitored weather and climate patterns and had developed forecasting capabilities for disaster risks.
The members were briefed on expected climate conditions, including above-normal temperatures in parts of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab, as well as increased risks of glacier lake outburst floods and flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The NDMA officials also briefed the committee on various technological initiatives, including real-time monitoring platforms and mobile applications providing early warnings, emergency alerts, and disaster response services.
The Authority officials further informed the committee about measures being taken to promote climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen emergency response capacities, and improve disaster preparedness at federal, provincial, and district levels.
PML-N Senator Anusha Rahman emphasised the need for enhanced coordination between the NDMA and provincial governments.
The NDMA chairman informed the committee that regular coordination mechanisms, preparedness plans, and emergency stockpiles had been established to ensure timely response during emergencies.
The committee also discussed vulnerable areas, including Kumrat and Swat, and stressed the importance of preventive measures to mitigate the risks of floods and glacier lake outburst events.
Representatives of Rescue 1122 Balochistan appreciated the NDMA’s support and called for greater coordination, resource sharing, and engagement of academic institutions in disaster management efforts.
The committee also considered “The National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025.” The members highlighted concerns regarding the timely distribution of relief supplies and emphasised the need for greater transparency, accountability, and coordination among disaster management institutions.
The committee recommended consultation with provincial governments on the proposed legislation. In view of the government’s reservations on the bill, the committee deferred further consideration until receipt of the government’s formal response.
Those who attended the meeting included senators Abdul Qadir, Saadia Abbasi and Samina Mumtaz Zehri, while Anusha Rahman participated via a video link.
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026
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