CIDCA, UNDP & GB Government launch initiative to modernize early warning systems across GB

GIlGIT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2026) The Inception Workshop of the “Tailored Intelligence for Actionable Early Warning Systems (TIAEWS) Pakistan” project under the Enhancing Climate Adaptive Resilience and Economic Recovery through Early Warning System, Women’s Empowerment and Sustainable Energy Solutions in Pakistan E-CARE Programme was convened in Gilgit, formally launching a transformative initiative to modernize early warning systems across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

Jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GB Government Planning and Development Department, through the Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Programme (GBRSP), the TIAEWS initiative covers all districts of the region. With US$3.98 million in funding from China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), it will strengthen preparedness against floods, glacial lake outburst floods, and landslides, directly benefiting around 3,000 people and improving resilience for nearly 2 million across GB.

The high-level workshop marked the beginning of a coordinated shift from fragmented warning mechanisms toward an integrated, end-to-end, actionable early warning architecture in high-risk districts. It brought together key regional stakeholders, including Col (Retd.) Ibrar Ismail, Caretaker Minister for Finance, Planning and Development, GB, Mr Kamal Khan, Commissioner Baltistan Division, Deputy Commissioners, representatives from GBDMA, Environmental Protection Agency EPA, Home and Prisons Department, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and development partners.

In his opening remarks, Minister Col (Retd) Ibrar Ismail highlighted increasing climate risks in the region and emphasized the need for innovative, reliable early warning mechanisms, while acknowledging the financial support from China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and UNDP in strengthening institutional capacity and technology-driven disaster risk reduction.

During the workshop, UNDP presented the project’s results framework, implementation road-map, anticipated challenges, and mitigation strategies. Detailed briefings clarified stakeholder roles, institutional coordination mechanism, and pathways for integrating actionable intelligence into disaster preparedness and response systems. A comprehensive presentation on the Early Warning Systems (EWS) Equipment Feasibility Study and Site Selection Validation outlined the technical process and priority locations for installation.

Commissioner Baltistan Kamal Khan underscored the needs for a robust data center to enable timely information sharing on climate threats, commended the strong inter-institutional coordination during baseline assessments, and encouraged community participation to ensure local ownership and sustainability of the installed systems.

The inception workshop reaffirmed a shared commitment among government institutions, development partners, and communities to build a resilient, technology-enabled early warning ecosystem capable of protecting vulnerable populations in one of Pakistan’s most climate-exposed regions.