- Premier Shehbaz declares the trio as national heroes, saying they had ‘set remarkable example of duty and responsibility’
- Shepherd’s timely warning spares Roshan village from devastation as floodwaters submerge settlement
- Incident reignites debate over costly early warning systems that failed to alert residents.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited three men from Gilgit-Baltistan, hailed as heroes for saving hundreds of lives from a potential Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), to Islamabad where they will be honoured with a special award.
On the Prime Minister’s directive, Wasit Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan—credited with alerting local communities in time to avert disaster—have been declared “national heroes.” “They have set a remarkable example of duty and responsibility,” Shehbaz said in a statement. “I, along with the entire nation, am proud of these heroes from Gilgit-Baltistan.”
Shepherd’s Warning Saves Roshan Village
The recognition follows the remarkable actions of a local shepherd in Roshan village, Ghizer district, who noticed signs of an imminent flood while tending cattle early Friday morning. Using his mobile phone, he alerted residents just minutes before floodwaters surged through the settlement, prompting a mass evacuation that saved the entire population.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has invited three heroes from Gilgit Baltistan (GB) who had saved about 300 human lives by providing timely information about the impacts of glacial burst or glacial lake outburst flood (glof) in Ghizer district.
More Details:… pic.twitter.com/U3LkyUC99q— APP (@appcsocialmedia) August 24, 2025
Officials confirmed that Roshan, located about 200 kilometres from Gilgit, was completely submerged. While no lives were lost, residents lost livestock, homes, and household belongings. “He is our saviour. We were all asleep and would have met a tragic fate had he not informed us,” said Shakir Hussain, a villager.
In recognition, local police awarded the shepherd Rs10,000, while the community is considering honouring him with a medal.
Failure of Early Warning Systems
The incident has reignited debate over Pakistan’s costly but often unreliable Early Warning Devices (EWDs) installed across G-B to detect floods and GLOFs. Despite millions spent, the systems failed to raise an alarm during recent floods that killed at least 40 people in areas where devices were operational.
“A simple shepherd did what millions of rupees worth of equipment could not,” remarked a Roshan resident, echoing widespread frustration at the shortcomings of the government’s flood preparedness.
Despite state failures, the Roshan incident—as well as similar community-led evacuations in Gulmit, Gojal, where volunteers escaped a sudden flash flood—has highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge and local vigilance in saving lives. “Maintaining friendly relations with China is the unanimous position of the entire Pakistani nation,” the army chief said, expressing gratitude to the Chinese leadership for its valuable cooperation in Pakistan’s economic and social development.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), recent monsoon floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone have killed 393 people and injured 190, with Buner district the worst hit (234 fatalities). Other badly affected areas include Swabi, Swat, Bajaur, Mansehra, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Battagram. Nationwide, nearly 750 people have died since the start of this year’s monsoon season.
Pakistan is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, facing frequent glacial melts, flash floods, and heat extremes. In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged one-third of the country, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.
