Only 350 sensors monitoring country’s 13,500 glaciers, Senate informed

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority has informed a Senate committee that 350 sensor devices have been installed under a United Nations Development Programme project to monitor glaciers, but the current number is insufficient for a country with around 13,500 glaciers.

NDMA Chairman Lt-Gen Inam Haider Malik gave the briefing on Tuesday during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat at the NDMA headquarters, according to a press release. The committee met to receive an update on climate risks, disaster preparedness and early warning systems.

During the meeting, committee chairman Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan referred the issue to the Ministry of Climate Change and recommended that it convene a joint technical meeting of all relevant stakeholders. Officials from US-based company Tollhawk also briefed the committee on sensor devices designed to provide early flood warnings to help prevent large-scale destruction.

Climate risks and preparedness

NDMA officials told the committee that Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and was facing growing threats from heatwaves, glacier melt, drought, flash floods and other climate-related disasters. They said the authority, working with national and international partners, was continuously tracking weather and climate patterns and had developed forecasting capacity for disaster risks.

The committee was also briefed on expected climate conditions, including above-normal temperatures in parts of Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab. NDMA officials further warned of heightened risks of glacier lake outburst floods and flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Officials also outlined technological initiatives that included real-time monitoring platforms and mobile applications offering early warnings, emergency alerts and disaster response services. They said steps were also being taken to promote climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen emergency response capacity and improve preparedness at the federal, provincial and district levels.

Coordination concerns raised

Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan stressed the need to close coordination gaps between federal and provincial authorities to enable a more timely and effective disaster response. PML-N Senator Anusha Rahman also underscored the importance of stronger coordination between the NDMA and provincial governments.

In response, Lt-Gen Malik told the committee that regular coordination mechanisms, preparedness plans and emergency stockpiles had been put in place to support timely action during emergencies. The committee also discussed vulnerable areas including Kumrat and Swat, and emphasised preventive measures to reduce 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 the involvement of academic institutions in disaster management efforts.

Bill deferred

The committee also took up The National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Members raised concerns about the timely distribution of relief supplies and called for stronger transparency, accountability and coordination among disaster management institutions.

The panel recommended consultation with provincial governments on the proposed legislation. It deferred further consideration of the bill in view of the government’s reservations, pending receipt of the government’s formal response.

Senators Abdul Qadir, Saadia Abbasi and Samina Mumtaz Zehri attended the meeting, while Senator Anusha Rahman joined through video link.