Islamabad, Pakistan, 20 August 2025 – In response to the recent devastation caused by heavy rains and flash floods in Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and other vulnerable mountain communities, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), through its agencies, is on the ground – assessing needs, supporting affected families, and coordinating relief and recovery operations in close collaboration with local authorities.

The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), AKDN’s lead response agency for natural disasters, has been spearheading community-based disaster management and response for over two decades. It has trained more than 36,000 community volunteers as first responders – half of whom are women – grouped into over 170 Community Emergency Response Teams.

At the onset of the recent flooding, AKAH rapidly mobilised emergency operation centres in Chitral, Gilgit, Karachi and Islamabad. Teams have been continuously assessing the situation, issuing weather alerts and keeping residents informed. The Community Emergency Response Teams have evacuated more than 3,000 people from vulnerable areas and are providing essential supplies such as food and tents, while also arranging safe shelter in schools, community buildings and with host families. To date, 109 families (around 800 individuals) have received a month’s supply of food and non-food items. Nineteen stockpiles have provided critical emergency assistance in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In addition, nine Disaster Assessment Response Teams have been deployed across northern Pakistan to conduct rapid assessments. AKAH is working in close coordination with the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority, the District Disaster Management Authority in Chitral and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Community volunteers continue to carry out repair work to restore drinking water supply lines, irrigation channels, roads and agricultural land under extremely challenging conditions. Village Emergency Response Teams have been on the frontlines in Diamer, rescuing residents and stranded tourists, delivering emergency supplies and evacuating the injured to hospitals. In addition to distributing tents and hygiene kits to affected families, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) also supported communities in Ghizer with the emergency repair of roads and irrigation channels, and in Baltistan, it has provided pipes to restore drinking and irrigation water. Working closely with government authorities, AKRSP teams continue to carry out damage assessment and prioritise rehabilitation projects to help communities recover.

The Aga Khan Health Service teams are on the ground 24/7 in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, ensuring healthcare support reaches flood-affected communities. In Punial, Ishkomen, a three-day medical camp treated over 380 patients and provided counselling and awareness sessions on hygiene and safe water. Field teams remain on high alert with medicines, staff and facilities ready to respond to any emergency, while health workers are visiting homes in vulnerable areas to ensure safe deliveries.

AKDN announced support for flood-affected communities in Gilgit-Baltistan after a request from Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan. The support includes early recovery, rehabilitation, solarising and repairing solar facilities in flood-affected government health facilities, rehabilitating drinking water supply schemes and protective infrastructure. Delivery of portable medical equipment and supplies to health providers will be ensured, and 16,500 mobile healthcare units will be established to provide quality care at health facilities in the affected areas. Early identification and management of 3,000 undernourished children and women in flood-affected areas of Gilgit-Baltistan will also be conducted. Additionally, a total of 490 projects for land levelling and terracing to reclaim agricultural lands, distribution of livestock inputs to 435 vulnerable farmers, and 98 micro-grants to women and men will be implemented to support affected communities.

AKDN and its agencies have a long-term presence in and commitment to Pakistan, working in close collaboration with communities, government and other partners to improve the quality of life for the most marginalised populations; and working to provide immediate humanitarian relief, restore basic infrastructure and livelihoods, and build long-term resilience to future disasters.

Update, 8 September 2025: AKDN’s response has continued in the affected regions with helicopter evacuations, further medical camps and ongoing rehabilitation of water channels, bridges and flood-affected land, among other relief and recovery efforts. Read the full update here.

For more information, please contact:
Laila Naz Taj
Director AKDN Pakistan Communications
[email protected]