Government official says it’s the ‘ideal time’ to visit GB without rain or bad weather from July 3 to 13
Every year, as June and July progress, railway stations, bus stops and airports receive a huge influx of passengers across Pakistan, most of them heading north to escape the scorching heat of the south. But this year, many tourists are skeptical: should they go or not?
The reason behind the confusion? Social networks. Since the beginning of June, dozens of videos have been circulating on the Internet showing dangerous floods, downpours, rain and landslides. Don’t go to Gilgit-Baltistan, or so the publications say. Some even urged people to cancel their trips.
On the other hand, social media accounts promoting tourism have been sharing completely different content, inviting people to visit Britain’s lush green meadows and snow-capped peaks.
So which side of the Internet should you trust? Here’s what’s really happening and what to check before you leave.
What the tourists saw
iVerify Pakistan He reached out to people who recently visited the northern areas.
“I heard reports of landslides before we left and was prepared for the worst… but by the time we reached the top of Babusar, the roads had already been cleared,” said Simran Abeer, who recently returned from a trip north.
Earlier on June 17, heavy rain caused landslides and mudflows that temporarily blocked sections of the Karakoram Highway in Diamer and the Baltistan Highway in Skardu. Authorities cleared roads and advised travelers to check conditions before leaving.
The 24-year-old recalled that during her trip she experienced no active snowfall. “But I did see snow melting on the top and patches of mud along the trail,” he told the team by phone.
Yusra Aiman, 30, who also visited Britain in mid-June, said leaving early in the morning made all the difference for her. “Even the trip on the Karakoram Highway was smooth at all times,” he noted.
Both Simran and Yusra noted that it was not the weather but the protests that stopped them. They reported delays in Chilas due to road blockages. “We were stuck on the road for about 38 hours on June 20 and 21,” Simran said, an interruption that has nothing to do with the viral weather warnings circulating online.
What is really happening on the ground?
Safi Ullah, Britain’s deputy director of tourism, said the image on social media rarely captures the full reality.
He explained that there are two main routes to Babusar Top: one via the Karakoram Highway via GB, the other via Naran-Kaghan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Now that the monsoon season is underway, heavy rains can cause flooding, especially in Diamer district, which experiences warmer temperatures than much of the region.
“If rainfall exceeds normal levels, there are chances of flooding in Diamer, which may temporarily block roads for one or two days,” he said.
But at the same time, Safi Ullah added that this does not happen every day. “Travelers should simply check official warnings before starting their trip,” the deputy director advised.
Raza Haider, northern director of WWF-Pakistan, offered similar context on environmental mechanics. He said such incidents are common in the mountainous region and tend to become more frequent during the monsoon season.
“Landslides are a common phenomenon in Britain. During the monsoon, their frequency increases due to heavy rain. The Karakoram Highway is generally open and is only temporarily blocked when landslides occur,” he said.
“Temperature changes also cause rocks to expand and contract over time, making them unstable. As a result, rocks can become loose and slide on roads, especially in mountainous areas,” he explained.
Commenting on the recent downpour in Diamer’s Thore Valley, which was widely shared on social media, Haider clarified that the incident was limited to the valley and did not affect Britain’s main roads or arteries.
Both experts pointed out the same solution for travel anxiety: check official advisories before you leave. Travelers can also contact the Tourist Police helpline for live updates on weather and road conditions.
‘The ideal moment’
Last week, in advisories issued from June 27 to July 3, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned of rains combined with rapid melting of glaciers in GB and KP, which could lead to flash floods, landslides, landslides, debris flow and rising river levels.
Safi Ullah explained that the GLOF alerts were aimed at remote inland valleys and were not likely to affect the Karakoram Highway itself. In the event of even moderate rain, landslides could still occur on the road, but he noted that authorities respond promptly and roads are usually cleared within 24 to 48 hours.
The deputy chief said now was “the ideal time to visit GB”, with no rain or weather warnings forecast for 10 days from 3 July. However, it must be kept in mind that rain forecasts can never be completely accurate.
To go or not to go
The reality for GB in summer is this: localized weather events, landslides and a downpour in Thore Valley-Diamer can temporarily block sections of the Karakoram Highway without closing the entire route.
Anyone planning a trip north should check the latest weather forecasts and road conditions before setting off. Follow updates from PMD, NDMA and GB authorities. Avoid traveling during periods of heavy rain or when active advisories are in effect.
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This article was published by iVerify Pakistan as part of its initiative to tackle climate myths and misinformation, with the support of Irada and IMS.
