Senator Sherry Rehman, chairing the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, on Wednesday, demanded immediate distribution of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) funds to the almost three million individuals impacted by recent floods. She cautioned that postponements in financial aid are exacerbating the plight of susceptible households. ‘This was implemented in 2022, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel,’ she stated, emphasizing that displaced individuals grappling with displacement, food shortages, and illness cannot endure further hold-ups. The committee backed her appeal, urging the administration to secure global assistance rather than contemplating smaller budgets.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman informed the committee that in Punjab alone, the current inundations have resulted in 998 fatalities, 1,062 injuries, and three million people impacted. Almost 300,000 individuals are residing in temporary shelters, with 2,000 relief centers operational nationwide. He alerted that April 2025 was the warmest April in 65 years, with escalating climatic consequences through flash deluges, erratic hailstorms, and glacier thawing.
The committee expressed worry over the lagging implementation of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II) initiative in Gilgit-Baltistan. Despite Pakistan being designated the most climate-vulnerable nation by the Climate Risk Index 2025, merely 15% of the project’s allocation has been utilized for early warning mechanisms since 2017, while 30% is absorbed by administrative expenses. Of 36 designated critical locations, only 24 valleys have been addressed.
Senator Rehman criticized what she termed ‘glacial slow governance,’ stating: ‘Communities in Gilgit-Baltistan are bearing the consequences of systemic breakdowns.’ UNDP and Ministry of Climate Change representatives acknowledged acquisition setbacks, poor collaboration, and inadequate integration of emergency personnel.
The committee also examined worrisome revelations concerning Rawal and Simly Dams, which provide water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Capital Development Authority (CDA) representatives disclosed that Rawal Dam has been deemed ‘100% unsafe’ due to surface pollutants, while a Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) assessment revealed that 62% of filtered water supplied to residents was contaminated. Senator Rehman denounced the concealment of information and inconsistent reporting: ‘When surface water is polluted at the origin, filtration becomes irrelevant. We are here to scrutinize your performance, not to remain passive bystanders.’ She called for immediate remedial actions to safeguard water resources.
Concluding the meeting, Senator Rehman noted: ‘Pakistan is encountering climatic calamities annually. Assistance cannot be postponed, governance cannot remain this sluggish, and funds cannot be absorbed by administration rather than frontline activities. Whether it’s flood aid, glacier thawing, or potable water security – critical course correction is required immediately.’ The gathering was attended by Senators, NDMA and CDA chairmen, Climate Ministry representatives, UNDP delegates, and other relevant stakeholders.