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Yearly Archives: 2026

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Amir Hamza belongs to village Dain in Tehsil Ishkoman of Ghizer. His household consists of five members and is a male-headed family with four dependents, including one school-age son. Before the floods of 14 August 2025, which devastated Ghizer1 in Gilgit-Baltistan, his story reflected the quiet stability of a self-sufficient rural life. The village of Dain was peaceful, with functioning homes, cultivated farmland, livestock, reliable water systems, and essential infrastructure such as a suspension bridge that connected residents to basic services and markets. This sense of security was shared across the community before the disaster upended their lives.

“Before the flooding, life was peaceful and beautiful. We had our homes, land, cattle, and a strong community,” Amir recalled. He and his family owned a total of five kanals of land, of which two kanals were washed away in the flood. They did not own any cattle.

The sudden flooding destroyed nearly everything including homes, mosques, Jamaat Khanas 2, farmlands, livestock, water channels, and the village’s historic suspension bridge. Families escaped in the middle of the crisis to higher ground, relying on relatives, neighbours, and volunteers for immediate rescue and shelter.

Amir is a father determined to give his young son an education, even though the monthly school fee of PKR 1,000 is a heavy burden for his modest means. After the devastating floods, he returned to driving a rickshaw, his primary source of income, to keep his family afloat. The disaster had swept away much of what he had built: his small shop, along with pear and almond orchards that once supplemented his livelihood. Yet despite these losses, Amir continues to prioritise his son’s schooling, holding on to the hope that education will open doors to a brighter future.

“The situation was unbearable. We nearly lost our senses. Our relatives and volunteers rescued us, gave us food, water, and shelter, and treated us with dignity,” shared Amir.

In the aftermath, the community prioritised restoring essential services, particularly access to clean water. External assistance followed, with NGOs and donors providing food and cash support. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) conducted multiple visits and provided multipurpose cash assistance of PKR 30,000 (approx. USD 108) in three monthly installments, totalling PKR 90,000, starting on 13 Nov 2025. The cash was used for rebuilding and meeting food security needs. Most families used the cash for children’s school fees, debt repayment, to meet daily household needs, and rebuilding homes in safer locations.

Food assistance was also provided under the project. It included wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, and salt. The quantities distributed were 100 kg of flour, seven litres of cooking oil, four kg of sugar, one kg of salt, and eight kg of pulses. This support was provided for one month, and it helped meet the basic household food needs during that period.

“We are using the cash according to our needs such as education, housing, and daily survival. This support has helped us stand again,” said Amir.

The family has experienced a significant improvement in living conditions after receiving a new house, financial support, and food rations, which have greatly reduced their hardships. However, some challenges remain unresolved, such as the restoration of lost agricultural land and the full recovery of livelihood assets. Although the family is now more stable due to the assistance, they remain partially vulnerable, particularly regarding income from agriculture and other lost assets.

Amir’s account reflects a broader pattern observed across Ghizer; while the floods caused devastating losses, strong social cohesion, timely humanitarian assistance, and community-led recovery efforts have been central to restoring dignity and hope.

  1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/22/rains-flash-floods-kill-21-in-pakistan-tourists-rescued-in-hilly-north ↩︎
  2. Places of worship and community work ↩︎

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Situation Overview

On January 19, 2026, at 11:21 AM local time, a shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw 5.6–5.8 struck Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan. The epicenter near Barishal severely impacted the remote Chipursan Valley in Upper Hunza. Despite its moderate magnitude, the shallow depth and fragile mountainous terrain caused significant localised destruction.

At least two lives were lost, several individuals injured, and eleven villages were affected; three of them completely destroyed. Approximately 300 households (2,100–2,400 people) are displaced, many now sheltering in tents, damaged homes, or with host families in nearby settlements such as Sost and Gulmit. The disaster coincided with peak winter, with temperatures dropping to –20°C, heightening risks of hypothermia and cold-related illness.

Landslides disrupted road access and damaged critical infrastructure, including micro-hydropower systems, water channels, and livestock shelters. Power outages have left families without heating, lighting, or communication during extreme winter conditions.

Impact Snapshot

Impact AreaDetails
Fatalities2 confirmed
InjuriesSeveral reported
Villages affected11 (3 fully destroyed)
Households affected300 HHs (2,100–2,400 people)
DisplacementFamilies in tents, damaged homes, or host communities
Infrastructure damageRoads blocked, micro-hydropower destroyed, water channels & shelters damaged
Vulnerable groupsWomen-headed households, children, elderly, persons with disabilities
Key risksHypothermia, cold-related illness, limited healthcare access

Humanitarian Needs

  • Multipurpose cash assistance for food, heating fuel, medicines, and temporary accommodation.
  • Winterisation support including winterized tents and non-food items to protect families from sub-zero temperatures.
  • Shelter and medical care for displaced families living in unsafe or temporary arrangements.
  • Psychosocial support to address trauma, stress, and displacement-related anxiety.

Community World Service Asia’s (CWSA) Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA), in coordination with the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), Hunza District Administration, and humanitarian partners, has launched a community-centered, gender-responsive emergency response. Quality, Accountability and Safeguarding (QAS) measures have been applied throughout the response, including community consultations, transparent participant verification, and complaint and feedback mechanisms to ensure accountability and safe programming for affected communities.

Plan and Action:

  • Field Office Established: A base set up in Khudadad Sost to coordinate relief operations
  • Household Assessments: Surveys completed across nine villages covering 300 households, with verification underway by the MEAL team.
  • Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): The first tranche for 300 households is planned to be disbursed tentatively scheduled for the third week of March, following completion of verification and administrative processes
  • Winterisation Kits: Procurement of high-quality kits aligned with global standards and community needs for 200 households underway
  • Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS):
    • 10 group sessions conducted, reaching 351 participants (women, girls, children, elderly, persons with disabilities).
    • 27 individual counselling sessions provided, focusing on trauma, stress, and coping strategies.
    • Special session organised for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Chitral, engaging 28 participants.

Solidarity and Partnership

These interventions are made possible through the support and solidarity of our global partners, ACT Alliance and Week of Compassion, whose commitment strengthens our ability to respond swiftly and effectively in times of crisis.

CWSA remains committed to ensuring dignified, inclusive, and effective humanitarian assistance for the affected communities of Chipursan Valley. Our response prioritises the most vulnerable, while building resilience and solidarity across the region.

Contacts:

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Tooba Siddiqi
Associate Regional Director
Emergencies, Healthy & Quality, Accountability & Safeguarding (QAS)
Email: tooba.siddiqi@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Associate Regional Director
Visibility & Strategic Engagement
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

633

High in the northernmost reaches of Pakistan, in Upper Hunza of Gilgit-Baltistan, lies the remote and breathtaking Chupurson Valley. Bordering the Wakhan Corridor and surrounded by towering peaks and vast glaciers, this isolated valley is home to a resilient Wakhi community whose lives revolve around livestock, small-scale farming, and deep-rooted traditions. Winters here are long and merciless. In January, temperatures plunge to –19°C and –20°C, freezing water sources, sealing off roads, and testing human endurance.

On January 19, 2026, at approximately 11:21 AM, that endurance was tested beyond measure. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the valley, its shallow depth amplifying the violent shaking. The epicenter was near the Yash Kuk Glacier and Zoodkhun village, about 50 kilometers north-northwest of Karimabad, Hunza. The tremor was followed by relentless aftershocks, prolonging fear and instability.

The impact was devastating.

At least 11 villages were affected, with Zoodkhun and Shetmerg among the hardest hit. Nearly 2,500 people across 500 households were impacted. Between 210 and 300 homes, built largely of stone, mud, and timber, collapsed or were rendered unsafe. Landslides cut off road access, isolating communities already battling extreme weather. Livestock sheds crumbled, leading to significant animal losses, a devastating blow in a region where animals are central to survival. With temperatures dropping to –20°C, families were forced to seek refuge in tents pitched over frozen ground. Nights were brutal, the cold seeping through fabric and blankets, while every aftershock revived panic and trauma.

Amid these statistics is the story of one mother.

That morning, she was preparing tea when the first tremor rattled her home. Her son had been playing outside moments earlier. Instinctively, she ran to find him, but in the confusion, he had rushed back inside. Within seconds, the house collapsed. Dust and debris filled the air. Amid the chaos, she heard his faint voice beneath the rubble. Neighbours rushed to help, digging with bare hands and shovels. Hours of desperate effort finally pulled him out alive. Injured and in urgent need of care, he was evacuated by helicopter the following day. Today, he is physically recovering, but emotionally, the earthquake still grips him, startled by aftershocks, waking at night in fear, like many other children of the valley.

Relief efforts were initiated by the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and local NGOs, distributing tents, blankets, food packs, and kerosene heaters. Yet ongoing aftershocks, blocked roads, and extreme cold slowed assistance, creating a critical humanitarian situation.

For the people of Chupurson, survival is not new. But this disaster has left scars deeper than cracked walls and fallen roofs. It has shaken a community already living on the edge of geography and climate. Rebuilding will require more than bricks and timber, it will require restoring a sense of safety in a land where the earth itself has become uncertain.

Community World Service Asia’s (CWSA) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Response

In response to the earthquake, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) is supporting local communities with emergency winterisation assistance along with Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) sessions, specifically requested by families enduring freezing temperatures and difficult conditions. Children were traumatised and frightened, and many families refused to return to their cracked homes.

Through its MHPSS initiatives, which are financially supported by Week of Compassion (WoC), CWSA has conducted 10 sessions, directly reaching 352 individuals, including affected community members and internally displaced persons (IDPs). In addition, 27 one-on-one counseling sessions are also provided to youth and elders, offering targeted psychosocial support.

The team also responded to a special request from the Gulmit Council to facilitate a dedicated session for 28 youth IDPs from Chitral (Baroghol), who had been hosted by local families in Gulmit for the past three years. A comprehensive full-day session was conducted, providing them with tailored support and engagement.

These interventions not only address immediate trauma but also contribute to strengthening resilience, restoring hope, and reaffirming community solidarity in the face of disaster.

In Chupurson Valley, the earth may have trembled, but the spirit of its people, supported by collective action and compassion, remains unshaken.

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Islamabad, 30 January, 2026 – Community World Service Asia (CWSA) successfully concluded a three-day Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks (PACDR) workshop, held from January 28 to 30, 2026. The workshop, part of the Regional Enhancement of Climate Adaptation and Partnership (RECAP) Project, equipped development professionals with practical tools for community-led climate resilience planning.

Led by lead facilitator Dr Manzoor Ahmed, the training fostered a dynamic exchange among professionals from seven partner organisations working across climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. Participants included representatives from Christian Study Centre, Labour Education Foundation (LEF), Pakistan Partnership Initiative (PPI), Roots for Equity, South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP PK), Taangh Wasaib Organisation (TWO), and Sojhla for Social Change.

The workshop gained a valuable regional perspective from Ashik Sardar, RECAP Coordinator from CCDB Bangladesh, who shared insights on the application and impact of the PACDR process in various countries.

Participants highlighted the training’s practical value for grassroots work. Jalwat Ali, a participant, noted, “This kind of training will help grassroots organisations reach communities effectively. I will apply this learning to support informal workers in Punjab.” Asher Shehzad from PPI emphasised the collaborative spirit, stating, “Working as a consortium is a need of the time in shrinking civic spaces.”

Rubina Shaheen, a community social worker from Hunza, shared that nature-based solutions are vital for tackling climate change, adding, “I have learned practical tools for disaster risk reduction planning that will be immensely helpful.”

The closing ceremony was honoured by Dr Roomi Saeed Hayat, CEO of the Institute of Rural Management (IRM) and Chairperson of the Climate Action Forum, as the Chief Guest. DrHayat commended the joint efforts and underscored the critical importance of localised, participatory approaches in building lasting climate resilience.

Over the three days, attendees engaged in hands-on modules covering climate risk and hazard analysis, participatory mapping, adaptation option evaluation, and the development of actionable Climate Adaptation Plans (CAPs). The workshop emphasised field-ready methodologies to integrate climate action into sustainable development programming.

CWSA remains dedicated to advancing community-led adaptation and disaster risk reduction through strategic capacity building, partnerships, and inclusive planning processes.

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Imtiaz Bibi, a mother of four from Talidas village, represents the experience of many women whose livelihoods and homes were completely destroyed by the 2025 floods1 in various villages of district Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan. Before the disaster, she worked in agricultural fields and orchards, cultivating crops and selling fruit and wood to cover her household expenses and her children’s education.

Despite the challenges her family faces, Imtiaz Bibi ensures all four of her children remain in school. Her youngest attends Early Childhood Development classes, while the older three are progressing through Grades 10, 9, and 6. Together, their education costs amount to around PKR 15,000 (approximately USD 54) each month, a significant expense for the family. With her husband, Ijlal Hussain, currently unemployed, the couple works side by side in the fields, relying on farming as their primary source of income to sustain their family and keep their children’s education on track.

“Before the floods, we worked on our fields and orchards and sold fruit and wood. The income covered my children’s education and our yearly household needs,” she shared.

The couple sold fruits such as apples, cherries, pears, apricots, almonds, and grapes. Their total earnings before the flood amounted to PKR 450,000 (approx. $ 1,600). This income was sufficient to cover her basic household needs, including kitchen expenses and construction costs, as well the children’s monthly school fee of about PKR 28,000 (approx. $100-101).

The floods washed away her home, farmland, orchards, and all sources of income. They had two houses constructed with cement. One house consisted of four rooms, while the other had six rooms. Like many families in Ghizer, Imtiaz Bibi and her family took shelter in tents on higher ground for several days before moving in with relatives for sometime, who live in a nearby village, due to fear of further flooding. However, due to limited space, they later moved to a tent.

“We lost everything; our house, crops, and orchards. We lived in a tent for 10 days and then moved to our relatives because we were afraid the flood would return,” she said.

Humanitarian assistance played a critical role in helping her family stabilise. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) provided food and cash assistance, with funding from ACT Alliance.

The project was implemented in coordination with Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN) to obtain primary data on flood-affected communities. At the start of the project, the CWSA project team coordinated with district-level stakeholders, including AKDN, Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), the Social Welfare Department, and NGOs/civil society organisations, to collect primary data and avoid duplication of assistance.

The food assistance by CWSA comprised 100 kg of flour, 7 liters of cooking oil, 4 kg of sugar, 1 kg of salt, and 8 kg of pulses. Currently, the family is eating two meals a day, which consist of a balance of staple foods supported through humanitarian assistance. The family also received multipurpose cash assistance in three installments of PKR 30,000 PKR (approx. USD 108) each, totaling PKR 90,000 (approx. USD 324) over a period of three months.

The project supported a total of 264 families across three Tehsil Headquarters (THQs) in District Ghizer including 157 families in THQ Gupis, 83 families in THQ Ishkoman, and the remaining families in THQ Punyal.

“CWSA supported us with food and cash. We used the cash to hire labour and cover construction costs. At that time, my husband had no work, so this support helped us begin rebuilding our lives,” Imtiaz Bibi shared.

The construction of a new house was made possible through the University of Lahore (UOL), which invested PKR 200,000 (approx. USD 720). Although the house has been rebuilt, the family has not yet moved in due to extreme cold weather and the unavailability of water. Currently, they are temporarily living in their shop, which they vacated for this purpose.

Since receiving assistance, their living conditions have significantly improved. The new house, financial support, and food rations have greatly reduced their hardships and enhanced their overall well-being.

Despite ongoing uncertainty, Imtiaz Bibi remains hopeful. Her story reflects the resilience of women who, even after losing everything, continue to prioritise their children’s education and work steadily towards recovery. The children have resumed attending school, which is within walking distance of their relatives’ house. During the floods, the school was submerged, and the children were unable to attend classes for two months. Once the water receded, the school reopened and classes resumed.

Imtiaz Bibi’s path to recovery involves continued financial support, access to basic necessities such as food rations, and having a stable home. These things are essential to improving her living conditions and reducing hardships. Although it is not yet clear whether the damaged land can be fully restored, agriculture remains their main source of income, so they plan to try again. When the next agricultural season arrives, they intend to resume crop cultivation and replant their fruit orchards.

  1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/22/rains-flash-floods-kill-21-in-pakistan-tourists-rescued-in-hilly-north ↩︎

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In its fresh whitewash and with its newly painted doors, the dispensary of village Jumo Nohri looks as if it was built recently. But it first opened in 2003 with staff, including a doctor (man), Lady Health Visitor (LHV) and dispenser. Riaz Ahmed, of the same village, says that the arrangement worked well for only about three years. At that time, though the dispenser attended daily, the doctor was assigned for only two days a week. “Even when he was here, he hardly ever worked in the dispensary. Instead, he went around the village to see patients who called him. That was not free; we paid what we could afford,” alleges the man.

Though there is no data of health issues in the area, Noor Muhammad of Community World Service Asia (CWSA) says that at the time of rehabilitating the dispensary they heard of cases of diphtheria and measles because of lack of immunisation. Allah Dad, the government dispenser who has served at the facility since June 2025, explained that past immunisation efforts were poorly managed and ultimately ineffective.

In the brief years when the dispensary functioned in the early 2000s, the absence of a lady doctor meant that women, particularly expectant mothers, had no access to proper care. Families relied entirely on the village midwife, often untrained. For serious complications, patients had to travel nearly forty kilometres to hospitals in Umerkot or Chhachro. While public transport was affordable, emergencies required hiring a private vehicle, an expense of around PKR 10,000 (USD 36), far beyond the reach of most families. Those unable to bear the cost were left without options, often resigning themselves to fate.

By 2006, the dispensary had fallen into disuse. For nearly two decades, it remained largely defunct, staffed only by a part-time dispenser and offering no meaningful services to the community.

In mid-2025, the District Health Officer at Umerkot requested CWSA to revitalise the Jumo Nohri dispensary. CWSA taking charge meant a full staff headed by Dr Misbah Marri, two LHVs, namely Musarat who also doubles as counsellor and social mobiliser and Farkhanda, with medical technician Waqas Ahmed. This staff divides their week in two-day shifts between this dispensary and two others in nearby villages. However, before operations could begin in August, the building being almost ramshackle required a facelift. New doors and a fresh coat of whitewash changed the aura of the facility.

Dr Misbah Marri says that she treats some 40 to 50 patients a day on her two days in this dispensary. The most common complaints she has to deal with are skin and gastro-intestinal problems which she attributes to contaminated water. Then there are respiratory tract infections, especially during the colder months of the year. Her patients come from about a dozen nearby villages whose collective population is between 10,000 to 12,000. Since this catchment is covered by the three dispensaries that CWSA manages, patients are within range of medical assistance six days a week. According to the doctor, she and her staff focus on mother and child health, ante and post-natal care, women in general and elderly and special persons.

“We have many antenatal cases of severely malnourished women,” says Dr Marri. “Deficiencies such as in B complex and folic acid result in malformed babies. As well as that, for the same reason, we hear of so many miscarriages.” The doctor who has been with CWSA since 2023, is of the view that Thar is particularly affected by these disorders. Between the months of August 2025, when the CWSA team began work here and November, she noticed a marked improvement in general health of women, especially pregnant individuals, because of the supplements they are being administered on a regular basis. However, she says there are still cases that have to be referred to the government’s Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative.

Waqas Ahmed, a medical technician with Community World Service Asia (CWSA), explains that poverty has long prevented local families from accessing even basic health supplements. Many relied on traditional home remedies, which offered little relief. Under previous government arrangements, essential medicines such as the antibiotic syrup Augmentin were available only at a cost of PKR 800 (approximately USD 3) per pack, far beyond the reach of most villagers, who endured their illnesses in silence. Today, with these medicines provided free of charge, the community has seen a marked decline in respiratory tract infections.

Lady Health Visitor (LHV) Musarat, who also serves as a social mobiliser, has been conducting regular health awareness sessions in the area. In her four months of service, she has observed a troubling pattern.

She narrates the case of a woman brought in on a camel cart because she was unable to walk even if assisted, leave alone walking on her own. She was bleeding heavily when Dr Marri and LHV Farkhanda provided her first aid for high blood pressure. During treatment the patient fainted but was soon stabilised and referred to Civil Hospital, Umerkot. In November, the woman was in the pink of health, according to Musarat.

Farkhanda relates the case of a woman named Zainab who was so weak from under nourishment that she could not even speak. She was severely anaemic and the doctor suspected heavy intestinal helminth infection. She was administered a drip and given necessary anti-helminth drugs as well as vitamin supplements. She too visits the health facility on her own now along with her two children.

Riaz Ahmed of the village says that since the CWSA intervention, the Jumo Nohri dispensary has been a boon for local women. He says it is a first-class facility right at their doorsteps. Earlier, the nearest facility for them was the Umerkot hospital, almost 45kilometres and a considerable expense away. But that does not mean that men are not benefitting, he adds. “We too get quality medication and for which we pay nothing.”

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When the earthquake struck Chupurson Valley in January, lives were shattered. Homes split open, families endured nights at –20°C in scattered tents, and fear became part of daily life.

CWSA’s frontline team journeyed across mountains to stand with communities in their darkest hour. In just four days, the team has facilitated structured mental health and psychosocial support sessions for over 230 participants so far— men, women, children and elderly who bravely shared their stories of trauma, resilience, and hope.

But survival needs remain urgent: warm insulated tents, winter clothing, bedding, medicines, hygiene supplies, and dignity kits for women and girls.

This response was made possible through the solidarity of our partners, Week of Compassion. Together, we are helping families heal and rebuild with dignity.

▶️ Watch the full story in our video.

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A three-day training workshop titled “Building Disaster and Climate-Resilient Governance: Integrated Approaches for Disaster Risk Management and Preparedness” was successfully organised by Community World Service Asia (CWSA) from 17–19 December 2025 in Lahore, Pakistan, for officials from the District Government Administration and the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA).

The workshop brought together senior officials from Gilgit-Baltistan, including Mr. Zakir Hussain, Director General GBDMA; Mr. Wali Ullah Falahi, Additional Commissioner Gilgit Division; Mr. Ghulam Hassan, Deputy Secretary Home; and Mr. Zahiruddin Baber, Deputy Director GBDMA, along with Assistant Directors representing all 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Hunza/Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Ghanche, Diamer, and Astore.

The workshop was formally opened by representatives of Community World Service Asia (CWSA), who warmly welcomed the participants and expressed sincere appreciation to officials from the District Administration, representatives of GBDMA, resource persons, and partner institutions. CWSA highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional systems, fostering cross-learning, and enhancing coordination to address increasing disaster and climate risks, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan.

Throughout the three days, the training focused on strengthening disaster risk governance and climate resilience within public institutions. Participants enhanced their understanding of integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into development planning, policy frameworks, and operational decision-making, with a strong emphasis on practical, field-oriented applications relevant to mountainous and climate-sensitive regions.

A significant component of the training emphasised the use of technology and data-driven approaches to support effective disaster risk management. Participants received hands-on exposure to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing applications, digital tools, and early warning systems, enabling them to strengthen risk assessment, hazard mapping, anticipatory action, and evidence-based planning at district and provincial levels.

The training also underscored the importance of nature-based solutions, community-centered approaches, and anticipatory action to reduce disaster impacts and enhance local resilience. Through interactive discussions and group exercises, participants explored practical ways to strengthen community engagement, ecosystem-based risk reduction, and early action mechanisms within existing government systems.

Sessions on climate and disaster risk financing strengthened participants’ understanding of risk-sensitive investments, financing instruments, and institutional mechanisms required to support sustainable and resilient development. These discussions highlighted the importance of aligning public investments and development programs with long-term climate and disaster risk considerations. The workshop featured contributions from experienced national experts and practitioners. Mr. Falak Nawaz, CEO National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) Islamabad, served as the Lead Trainer and facilitated key sessions on risk-informed governance, GIS and remote sensing applications, anticipatory action, digital preparedness, and mainstreaming climate resilience into development planning.

Mr. Muhammad Ajmal Shad, Chief Meteorologist (Retd.), Pakistan Meteorological Department, delivered an in-depth session on flood forecasting, climate trends, and early warning systems, enhancing participants’ understanding of hydro-meteorological risks and preparedness measures.

Ms. Shehnaz Akhter, Provincial Lead Rescue 1122, shared valuable insights on emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and effective response systems.

Mr. Mubashir Hussain, Manager Disaster Risk Financing at NDRMF, presented on nature-based disaster risk reduction and climate and disaster risk financing mechanisms, highlighting pathways to strengthen district-level resilience.

On the final day, participants received an exposure visit to the Rescue 1122 Emergency Services Headquarters and Emergency Services Academy, Government of Punjab, facilitated by Ms. Shehnaz Akhter and senior Rescue 1122 officials. The visit provided comprehensive insights into command-and-control systems, emergency response operations, simulation-based training, and rapid response mechanisms. Participants observed live demonstrations and learned about the Academy’s initiatives to strengthen institutional preparedness, responder capacity, and inter-agency coordination.

As part of this initiative, CWSA and GBDMA teams visited the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), where officials shared insights into provincial-level disaster preparedness planning, coordination mechanisms, risk assessment processes, and response operations. The visit provided valuable exposure to institutional models and standard operating procedures, supporting cross-provincial learning and adaptation to the context of Gilgit-Baltistan.

During the concluding reflections, Mr. Zakir Hussain, Director General GBDMA, emphasised that regional coordination and preparedness are essential for Gilgit-Baltistan, given its fragile geography and increasing climate-induced risks. He underscored the importance of strengthened inter-provincial and inter-agency collaboration.

Representatives from the District Administration highlighted the importance of coordination among district administrations, particularly in aligning planning and implementation processes. They stressed the need to integrate climate change considerations into district-level programs and development initiatives and commended CWSA’s efforts in bringing together diverse government stakeholders on a single platform, enabling shared learning, alignment of priorities, and strengthened institutional coordination.

The workshop concluded with commitment from all participants to apply the knowledge, tools, and insights gained to strengthen coordination, integrate technology and climate considerations, and advance disaster- and climate-resilient governance within their respective institutions and districts.

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