ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday honoured three shepherds from Gilgit-Baltistan province after their timely warning saved around 300 lives from a devastating glacial lake outburst flood in the country’s mountainous north.
The three men – identified as Wasit Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan – were awarded cash prizes of Rs2.5 million each and presented with certificates of appreciation during a meeting with the premier in Islamabad, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The shepherds, who were tending livestock in Ghizer district, spotted signs of an imminent flood and immediately alerted residents of Roshan and nearby villages.
Their warning prompted the evacuation of three villages shortly before floodwaters submerged the area, preventing large-scale loss of life.
Praising their courage, Prime Minister Sharif described the shepherds as “heroes of Pakistan’s 240 million people.”
براہِ راست: گلگت بلتستان کےوصیت خان، انصاراورمحمد خان کی وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے ملاقات https://t.co/CbCIxx2GLT
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) August 25, 2025
He said their vigilance had set an example of selfless service and was a source of national pride.
“Thanks to your timely action, hundreds of lives were saved by evacuating the area in time. This act of human service will always be remembered in golden words,” the prime minister said, according to the statement.
PM Sharif further announced that the affected village would be rebuilt as a model settlement with modern facilities.
He also pledged to visit Gilgit-Baltistan soon, adding that the Ministry of Climate Change was accelerating efforts to establish an integrated early warning system in the region to prevent future disasters.
