ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited three shepherds from Gilgit Baltistan (GB) to Islamabad in recognition of their courageous role in saving hundreds of lives during a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Ghizer district.
Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, the premier directed that the three individuals Wasiyat Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan be specially invited to the federal capital. The three men had provided early warnings about the potential impacts of the glacial burst in Ghizer district, enabling authorities and residents to take precautionary measures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the shepherds, calling them “heroes of the nation” and commending their bravery and vigilance. “Wasiyat Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan have set an exemplary precedent of responsibility,” the premier was quoted as saying.
The Prime Minister further focused on that the role of local communities is critical in disaster preparedness, particularly in mountainous regions like Gilgit Baltistan, which remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and glacial melting.
The Ghizer incident once again mentioned the growing threat posed by GLOFs in Pakistan’s northern areas, where rising temperatures and melting glaciers continue to increase the risk of sudden floods. The recognition of the three shepherds is being viewed as both a symbolic and practical step by the federal government to encourage community-level vigilance and to strengthen disaster preparedness mechanisms in the region.
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The awards ceremony in Islamabad is expected to take place in the coming days, with Prime Minister Shehbaz personally honouring the three men whose timely actions prevented a major tragedy.
