KP CS orders precautionary measures amid monsoon, GLOFs

Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, on Monday directed all relevant departments to take effective precautionary measures in view of the looming threats posed by monsoon rains and potential Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in mountainous areas

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th May, 2026) Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, on Monday directed all relevant departments to take effective precautionary measures in view of the looming threats posed by monsoon rains and potential Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in mountainous areas.

The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary to review preparedness and preemptive actions for dealing with any emergency situation arising from heavy rains and glacier-related hazards.

Officials briefed the meeting on ongoing preparations across the province. It was informed that cleaning of drainage channels is underway, while the Irrigation Department has so far reclaimed 703 kanals of land from water flow paths and removed 227 illegal structures obstructing natural waterways.

The meeting was further apprised that Rescue 1122 has finalized its preparedness plan across the province, including 17 flood-prone districts that were affected in previous years. As part of these preparations, special mock drills would be conducted during the current month to enhance emergency response capacity, while trained divers would remain available round the clock.

Similarly, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has ensured adequate stockpiling of relief goods to respond promptly in case of any untoward situation.

The Chief Secretary directed authorities to ensure that early warning systems in mountainous regions remained fully functional. He emphasized the need for re-evaluation and testing of these systems to guarantee timely dissemination of alerts to the maximum number of people in case of emergencies.

He also instructed that local communities be kept regularly informed about weather conditions and potential risks.

Shahab Ali Shah further ordered strict enforcement of Section 144 along riverbanks to prevent risks during the monsoon season.

He also directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure availability of essential commodities and maintain close coordination among departments.

The Chief Secretary warned that any negligence in flood and GLOF preparedness would not be tolerated, adding that strict monitoring of officials’ performance would be carried out.