FP018

Scaling-up of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk reduction in Northern Pakistan

Scaling-up of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk reduction in Northern Pakistan

  • Status Under implementation
  • Date approved 14 Oct 2016 at B.14
  • Est. completion 10 Jan 2025
  • ESS Category Category B

Rising temperatures have melted glaciers, creating glacial lakes in Northern Pakistan. These carry the risk of outburst flooding events, threatening over 7 million people. Early warning systems, engineering structures and disaster management policies will reduce risk, protecting local communities and providing early warning of devastating flood events.

The melting of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayan glaciers in Northern Pakistan due to rising temperatures have created 3,044 glacial lakes in the federally-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It is estimated that 33 of these glacial lakes are hazardous and likely to result in glacial lake outburst floods. Such flooding releases millions of cubic metres of water and debris in just a few hours, resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of property and infrastructure, and severe damage to livelihoods in some of the most remote areas of Pakistan.

The project will build 250 engineering structures including damns, ponds, spill ways, tree plantation and drainage to reduce risk. At the same time, the development of disaster management policies and the introduction of weather monitoring stations, flood gauges, hydrological modelling and early warning systems will increase the ability to respond rapidly to flood scenarios.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 15 years.

Total project value

 

Beneficiaries

 

Direct
696,342
Indirect
28,536,658
Theme

Adaptation

Result areas

Project timeline

Pipeline

30 May 2015 - 504 days

Concept note received

30 May 2015

Funding proposal received

31 Jul 2015

Legal opinion on AE's Internal Approval

28 Sep 2016

Approved

14 Oct 2016 - 272 days

Approved by GCF Board

14 Oct 2016

Cleared by iTAP

14 Oct 2016

FAA executed

19 May 2017

Under implementation

12 Jul 2017 - 2,452 days so far

FAA effective

12 Jul 2017

Disbursement - USD 10,504,366

21 Mar 2018

Annual Performance Report

23 Mar 2018

Annual Performance Report

01 Mar 2019

Disbursement - USD 7,461,097

14 Jun 2021

Disbursement - USD 7,698,739

21 Jun 2022

Disbursement - USD 5,737,254

21 Aug 2023

Disbursement - USD 5,558,544

11 Dec 2023

To be completed

10 Jan 2025 - 288 days to go

One region

  • Asia-Pacific

One country

USD  
  • Financing
    • Private sector
    • Public sector
  • Size
    • Micro
    • Small
    • Medium
    • Large

GCF financing100% disbursed

InstrumentAmount
GrantUSD 36,960,000
Total GCF Financing
USD 36,960,000

Co-financing

Co-financerInstrumentAmount
Co-FinancingGrantUSD 500,000
Total Co-Financing
USD 500,000

GCF Contacts

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Project complaints and grievances

GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM)
Phone +82 32 458 6186 (KST)
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Integrity issues

GCF Independent Integrity Unity (IIU)
Phone +82 32 458 6714 (KST)
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Accredited Entity

United Nations Development Programme
Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya
Primary

Executive Coordinator and Director, Global Environment Finance
304 East 45th Street, FF-9th Floor, New York, NY, United States
Phone +1 (212) 906-5884
pradeep.kurukulasuriya@undp.org
Mr. Robin Merlier
Secondary

Environmental Policy Specialist Global Environmental Finance, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS)/Global Policy Network
Phone +1 2129065842
robin.merlier@undp.org
More contacts

National Designated Authority

Pakistan
Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination
Ms. Saadia Sarwat Jawaid Primary
Additional Secretary-I
LG&RD Complex 4th Floor Sector G 5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

Documents

News + Stories

Climate crisis in the Himalayas: addressing the threat of melting glaciers in Northern Pakistan

22 Mar 2024 / In the majestic landscapes of Northern Pakistan, a silent catastrophe is unfolding. Rising temperatures have taken a toll on the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayan glaciers, causing them to melt at an alarming rate. As a result, glacial lakes have emerged, shimmering like jewels amidst the rugged terrain. Risks and recognition These glacial lakes pose a significant risk of flooding events, capable of unleashing devastation upon the land and its people. Over seven million people live in the shadow of an impending disaster.

The positives of preparing for disaster

12 Jun 2018 / A guide to GCF's support for climate change early warning systems

The positives of preparing for disaster

11 Jun 2018 / A guide to GCF’s support for climate change early warning systems