Govt official says it is the ‘ideal time’ to visit G-B with no rain or bad weather forecast from July 3 to 13
Every year, as June and July roll in, railway stations, bus stands and airports see a huge influx of passengers across Pakistan — a majority of them heading up north to escape the scorching heat down south. But this year, many tourists are sceptical: to go or not to go?
The reason behind the confusion? Social media. Since early June, dozens of videos showing dangerous floods, cloudbursts, rains and landslides have been circulating online. Don’t go to Gilgit-Baltistan, or so the posts say. Some even urged people to cancel their trips.
On the other hand, social media accounts promoting tourism have been sharing entirely different content, inviting people to visit the lush green meadows and snowcapped peaks of G-B.
So which side of the internet should you trust? Here’s what’s actually going on, and what to check before you leave.
What tourists saw
iVerify Pakistan reached out to people who recently visited the northern areas.
“I heard reports of landslides before setting out and was prepared for the worst … but by the time we reached the Babusar Top, the roads had already been cleared,” said Simran Abeer, who recently returned from a north trip.
Earlier, on June 17, heavy rains triggered landslides and mudflows that temporarily blocked sections of the Karakoram Highway in Diamer and the Baltistan Road in Skardu. Authorities cleared the roads and advised travellers to verify conditions before departing.
The 24-year-old recalled that she did not experience active snowfall during her trip. “But I did see snow at the top melting and muddy patches along the road,” she told the team over the phone.
Yusra Aiman, 30, who also visited G-B in mid-June, said leaving early in the morning made all the difference for her. “Even the drive along the Karakoram Highway was smooth throughout,” she pointed out.
Both Simran and Yusra noted that it was not the weather but the protests that stopped them. They recounted delays in Chilas due to road blockades. “We were stuck on the road for around 38 hours on June 20 and 21,” said Simran, a disruption with nothing to do with the viral weather warnings circulating online.
What’s actually happening on the ground
Safi Ullah, deputy director of tourism for G-B, said the picture on social media rarely captures the full reality.
He explained that there are two main routes to Babusar Top: one via the Karakoram Highway through G-B, the other through Naran-Kaghan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. With the monsoon season now underway, heavy rainfall can trigger flooding, particularly 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 can temporarily block roads for one or two days,” he said.
But at the same time, Safi Ullah added that this was not a daily occurrence. “Travellers should simply check official advisories before starting their journey,” the deputy director advised.
Raza Haider, director north for WWF-Pakistan, offered a similar context on the 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 usual phenomenon in G-B. During the monsoon, their frequency increases due to heavy rainfall. 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 loosen and slide onto roads, particularly in mountainous areas,” he explained.
Commenting on the recent cloudburst in Diamer’s Thore Valley — which was widely shared on social media — Haider clarified that the incident was confined to the valley and did not affect major roads or arteries across G-B.
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Both experts pointed to the same fix for travel anxiety: check official advisories before setting out. Travellers can also contact the Tourist Police helpline for live updates on road and weather conditions.
‘Ideal time’
Last week, in advisories issued for June 27 to July 3, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned of rainfall combined with rapid glacier melt across G-B and K-P, which could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides, debris flow and rising river levels.
Safi Ullah elaborated that the GLOF alerts were directed at remote interior valleys and were not likely to affect the Karakoram Highway itself. In case of rainfall, even if moderate, landslides could still occur on the highway — but he noted that authorities respond promptly, and roads are usually cleared within 24 to 48 hours.
The deputy director said now was “the ideal time to visit GB”, with no rain or weather alerts forecast in the 10 days after July 3. However, it must be noted that rain forecasts can never be entirely accurate.
To go or not to go
The reality of G-B in summer is this: localised weather events, landslides, and a cloudburst in Thore Valley-Diamer can temporarily block sections of the Karakoram Highway without shutting down the entire route.
Anyone planning a trip north should check the latest weather forecasts and road conditions before leaving. Follow updates from the PMD, NDMA, and G-B authorities. Avoid travelling during periods of heavy rainfall or when active advisories are in effect.
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This article was published by iVerify Pakistan under its initiative tackling myths and disinformation around climate, supported by Irada and IMS