UNDP unhappy with slow progress on GLOF-II project in G-B

GILGIT: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has expressed significant concerns regarding the sluggish pace of the GLOF-II project implementation and the low utilisation of allocated funds, citing various administrative issues as the primary obstacles.

These concerns were brought to light during a recent review meeting held at the Planning and Development (P&D) Department in Gilgit. The meeting, chaired by Gilgit-Baltistan Additional Chief Secretary Captain (Retd) Mushtaq Ahmed, saw the participation of several key stakeholders involved in the project.

The UNDP mission, represented by UNDP Pakistan Deputy Country Representative Van Nguyen and Assistant Resident Representative Mustafa Mehmood, urged the implementing partners to expedite their efforts to achieve an 80% utilisation of funds by the end of July or August.

In response, Additional Chief Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed assured the UNDP mission of taking all necessary steps to meet the financial utilisation target within the stipulated timeline. He called upon all implementing partner departments to intensify their efforts and accelerate field interventions to meet the required targets. Ahmed emphasised the importance of efficient fund utilisation and prompt action to ensure the project’s success.

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UNDP Program Analyst Muteeb Ali and GLOF-II Project G-B Coordinator Abdul Basit delivered a comprehensive presentation on the progress of the project activities, highlighting the current fiscal year’s fund utilization status.

Mushtaq Ahmed expressed his gratitude to the UNDP mission for their invaluable support throughout the implementation of the GLOF-II project. He reiterated the commitment of all stakeholders to enhance the project’s implementation and ensure the successful achievement of its goals.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to enhance project implementation and ensure the successful achievement of project goals.

According to the UNDP, due to rising temperatures, glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges, including the Hindu Kush, Himalayas, and Karakorum, are melting rapidly. The rapid ice melting has led to the formation of 3,044 glacial lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Of these, 33 glacial lakes have been assessed as prone to hazardous glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF).

GLOFs are sudden events that can release millions of cubic meters of water and debris, causing the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods among remote and impoverished mountain communities. Over 7.1 million people in GB and KP are vulnerable to these events, with 26.7 per cent and 22 per cent of the population in these areas, respectively, living below the poverty line.

The GLOF-II project builds on the measures piloted by GLOF-I and aims to empower communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related climate change impacts. The project seeks to strengthen public services to lower disaster risk and improve community preparedness and disaster response. Operating in 16 valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and 8 valleys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, GLOF-II is a crucial initiative in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

It is to be mentioned here that flash floods triggered by melting glaciers last week damaged over two dozen homes, hundreds of kanals of land, crops, and trees along the Burgi nullah in Skardu, forcing the evacuation of dozens of households to safe areas. The flooding has affected many villages situated along the Burgi nullah and also damaged water supply and irrigation channels, resulting in the blockage of water supply to local residents. Dozens of families have been left homeless after floodwaters damaged their homes, while water has entered over two dozen homes, causing further destruction.