Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan’s northern mountainous region, known as the “third pole” for its vast glacial landscape, is facing unprecedented destruction in 2025 due to climate change. Heavy monsoon rains, cloudbursts, landslides, and rapid glacial melting have unleashed devastating flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan, obliterating villages, infrastructure, and livelihoods. With over 13,000 glaciers spanning more than 13,500 square kilometers, GB is highly susceptible to global warming, which has intensified monsoon patterns and accelerated ice loss in Gilgit-Baltistan. This year’s floods, part of the broader 2025 Pakistan floods that have claimed over 800 lives nationwide, have left thousands displaced and entire communities in ruins across Gilgit-Baltistan.
Escalating Climate Crisis and Glacial Melting
Climate change is the driving force behind GB’s recurring disasters. Glaciers in the region are melting rapidly—10-30 meters annually in the Himalayas, 5-10 meters in the Hindu Kush, and 2-3 meters in the Karakoram—outpacing replenishment due to longer summers and reduced snowfall. Since 1960, the region has lost 23% of its ice, with projections suggesting up to 60% of glaciers could vanish by 2100, threatening water security for millions downstream. Deforestation, with Pakistan losing 95.3 square kilometers of forest cover from 2001 to 2024 due to logging and wildfires, has worsened erosion and flood risks.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, climate change is the driving force behind GB’s recurring disasters.
Shrinking winters and below-normal precipitation have dried up water sources in areas like Gishgish in Ishkoman Valley, causing early crop failures and livelihood disruptions. Monsoons, 50-60% more intense than in 2024, have formed dangerous glacial lakes, locally called Masnavi Jalins, triggering GLOFs. Heatwaves in 2025, with temperatures reaching 48.5°C in Chilas and 46.1°C in Bunji on July 5, have further accelerated glacial melt, causing floods that damaged homes, crops, roads, and sanitation systems across districts. The Shishper Glacier in Hunza, for example, has become increasingly unstable, unleashing frequent GLOFs that erode farmland and threaten infrastructure.
Widespread Destruction Across Districts
The Impact of Climate Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
The impact of climate change in Gilgit-Baltistan is evident in the increasing frequency of natural disasters.
The floods have devastated multiple districts in Gilgit-Baltistan, isolating communities and destroying critical infrastructure. In Hunza, the collapse of the Shashpar Glacier and flash floods in Hasanabad forced residents to evacuate to safer areas. The Karakoram Highway (KKH), a vital trade route connecting Pakistan to China at the Khunjerab Pass, has been closed for days, diverting traffic through the Saas Valley in Nagar. In Nagar’s Dramman area, the melting of the Hopper Glacier—one of the world’s largest—flooded the Shaman neighborhood, destroying homes and leaving families to seek shelter with relatives across Gilgit-Baltistan.
Ghizer District has been hit hardest. On August 22, a glacier burst in Talidas blocked the Ghizer River, damaging 211 houses and heightening flood risks. In Roushun’s Rawash neighborhood, a nighttime flash flood trapped over 300 people. Thanks to timely warnings from shepherds Kifayat, Wasiat, and Karim, who alerted the community via phone, many lives were saved. Pakistan Army helicopters rescued survivors in Rawash and Jalal Azar, while Tehsil Phander remained cut off for 22 days due to submerged roads, forcing residents to trek dangerous mountain paths for essentials.
In Baltistan, floods inundated Gwari Kreis in Ghanche, villages in Kharmang, and Halka Do Gali in Skardu, where a mother and daughter perished in Kaffa Show at 3,100 meters elevation in Gilgit-Baltistan. Iconic hotels, drainage systems, fields, and crops were destroyed. Diamer District reported eight deaths from GLOFs, while Babusar Valley in Nagar faced destruction not seen since 1978, worsened by ongoing deforestation. In Ishkoman and Yasin valleys, floods caused human casualties and massive financial losses, displacing communities and scarring landscapes in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Danyor, five volunteers died repairing a water channel, trapped by debris. Overall, the floods destroyed over 600 homes, killed at least 18 people in a single August GLOF, and caused losses exceeding 30 billion rupees, displacing thousands in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Community Resilience and Heroism
Communities in Gilgit-Baltistan are showing resilience in the face of these disasters.
Amid the devastation, stories of resilience shine through. In Rawash, shepherds’ quick thinking saved lives, earning them cash awards from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, presented by Provincial Muslim League-Nawaz President and former Chief Minister Hafiz-ur-Rehman. In Chogogrung near Siachen, villagers like Muntazer Mehdi fled GLOFs, losing everything but prioritizing survival. Local communities in Hunza, Ghizer, and other areas have relied on traditional knowledge and mutual support, though many remain without basic necessities.
Inadequate Government Response
The inadequate government response to the crises in Gilgit-Baltistan has been a topic of concern for many.
The GB provincial government has faced sharp criticism for its inadequate response. Affected families lack electricity, water, accommodation, and medical aid. The National Disaster Management Authority issued travel warnings for blocked routes like Shyok River and Astak Bridge, but relief efforts have been insufficient. Projects like GLOF-II, funded with 10.3 billion rupees, have been plagued by irregularities, failing to install early warning systems or raise awareness despite 300 glaciers at risk of GLOFs. Experts and locals are calling for a climate emergency declaration in GB, urging sustainable policies to address the crisis.
GB’s crisis highlights Pakistan’s acute vulnerability, ranked as the most climate-vulnerable nation in the 2025 Climate Risk Index, despite contributing less than 1% of global emissions. With 3,044 glacial lakes, 33 deemed highly dangerous, threatening 2 million people, immediate action is critical. Early warning systems, reforestation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and regulated development are essential to mitigate future disasters. Without swift intervention, GB’s breathtaking landscapes and vibrant communities risk being lost to escalating climate-induced tragedies.
The situation in Gilgit-Baltistan highlights Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to climate change.
