Neoc Warns Of Glof Risks Due To Early Heatwaves In Pakistan

Recent warnings from the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) highlight an escalating risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in northern Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The NEOC has issued a cautionary advisory for the period from March to September 2026, indicating that rising temperatures and early heatwaves could significantly accelerate glacier melting. According to the PMD, current daytime temperatures are 3-5°C above normal, exacerbating the situation as glaciers retreat and glacial lakes expand. This alarming trend poses a direct threat to over 7.1 million people in these regions, with the potential for catastrophic floods that could inundate entire valleys within hours. As noted by The Express Tribune, "Every outburst flood rips through roads that connect remote valleys to markets, damages hydropower facilities that feed into an already strained grid, and buries farmland that sustains local economies."