The lakes that should not exist in Pakistan’s mountain ranges

June 26, 2026

Rising temperatures caused by global industrial emissions have created over 3,000 glacial lakes in northern Pakistan's mountain ranges, with 33 posing extreme flood risks to millions of vulnerable residents who contribute minimally to climate change. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) have surged dramatically from 18 events during 2018-2021 to 83 in 2023 alone, devastating impoverished farming communities through catastrophic floods that release millions of cubic meters of water within hours. While wealthy nations responsible for roughly half of historical carbon emissions pledged $40 billion in adaptation finance by 2025, they have delivered only about 30 percent of this commitment, leaving Pakistan to fund disaster recovery through expensive loans.

Who is affected

Over 29 million people in northern Pakistan's mountain valleys targeted by the GLOF-II project
Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan (26.7% living below poverty line) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (22% below poverty line)
Smallholder farmers, herders, and seasonal laborers in vulnerable valleys
Over 10,000 people living in Bagrote Valley under constant flood threat
6.9 million people affected by the 2025 monsoon season, with 3 million displaced and over 1,000 killed (including 275 children)
Communities in Hunza Valley who lost critical infrastructure including bridges connecting villages
Residents of 24 vulnerable valleys across 18 districts where early warning systems are being installed

What action is being taken

The GLOF-II project (running since 2017) is building 250 engineering structures and extending early warning systems across 24 vulnerable valleys
Early warning systems currently cover 24 valleys across 18 districts
The Pakistan Meteorological Department is monitoring and warning about increasing melt rates and GLOF frequency
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial/district bodies are operating a warning chain
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is directing continuous monitoring of high-risk areas and reviewing operational readiness of GLOF early warning systems
The Loss and Damage Fund opened its first $250 million call for proposals at COP30

Why it matters

This represents a stark climate injustice where Pakistan, contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ranks among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries and bears catastrophic costs from emissions produced primarily by the United States, European Union, and China. The rapid acceleration of GLOFs—from 18 events in 2018-2021 to 83 in 2023 alone—demonstrates how quickly climate impacts are outpacing institutional responses, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of impoverished people who lack financial resources to recover from disasters. The massive gap between pledged adaptation finance ($40 billion) and actual delivery (only $12 billion, or 30%) reveals that wealthy nations are failing their moral and legal obligations under international climate agreements, forcing Pakistan to borrow through costly loans to address damage it did not cause. Without adequate funding, infrastructure, and environmental enforcement, these communities face an unending cycle of displacement and loss that could affect tens of millions of people living under over 3,000 glacial lakes.

What's next

The GLOF-II project aims to achieve 95 percent household coverage for flood warnings when complete, protecting roughly 29 million people
Developing countries will need between $310 and 365 billion per year for climate adaptation by 2035, according to UN estimates
The Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency has recommended a five-year ban on hotel construction in several areas (though enforcement remains incomplete)
Pakistan continues to advocate for fulfillment of international climate finance commitments and Loss and Damage Fund contributions

Read full article from source: Global Voices