CM Gulbar Khan Reviews Flood Rehabilitation, Urges Swift Shelter Provision Before Winter

Gilgit—Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan, chaired a high-level meeting to review ongoing rehabilitation and housing projects for flood-affected families, particularly focusing on ensuring shelter provision before the onset of winter.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the provincial government’s organized and efficient response in rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts in flood-hit areas has been exemplary. He emphasized that providing shelters to displaced families before winter remains a top priority, and that work is being carried out with the cooperation of donors and NGOs.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also reminded the President of the Ismaili National Council for Pakistan that His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), had pledged Rs. 2 billion for rehabilitation efforts in consultation with the government. He stressed that the most urgent need at present is the provision of shelters and requested AKDN’s continued support in this regard.

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The meeting was informed that in Ghizer district, families displaced by floods in Tali Das have been relocated to an alternate site where resettlement work is underway. The government is accelerating the construction of essential infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electricity, and irrigation channels in the area.

The Chief Minister further stated that projects worth Rs. 1.8 billion have been approved under emergency provisions for flood-hit areas across Gilgit-Baltistan, and work is actively progressing. Officials from the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and the Additional Chief Secretary briefed the CM on the progress of these projects.

CM Gulbar Khan directed authorities to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing emergency projects and ordered the release of pending payments for works completed between 2022 and 2024. He also instructed that compensation for destroyed houses be distributed on an equitable basis.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Finance Minister Engineer Muhammad Ismail, GB Assembly Member Jamil Ahmed, Special Assistants to the Chief Minister Muhammad Ali Qaid and Hussain Shah, Additional Chief Secretary GB, Chairman CMIT, Deputy Commissioner Ghizer, President of the Ismaili National Council for Pakistan, and representatives from GBDMA, the Home Department, the Finance Department, and the Public Works Department.