Government official says July 3-13 is the ‘ideal time’ to visit GB with no rain or bad weather forecast
Every year, as June and July roll in, railway stations, bus stands and airports experience a huge influx of passengers across Pakistan – a majority of whom are heading north to escape the scorching heat of the south. But this year, many tourists are skeptical: to go or not to go?
The reason behind the confusion? Social media. Since early June, dozens of videos showing dangerous floods, cloudbursts, rain and landslides have circulated 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 shared completely different content, inviting people to visit the lush green meadows and snow-capped peaks of GB.
So which side of the internet should you trust? Here’s what’s actually going on and what to check before you travel.
What tourists saw
iVerify Pakistan reached out to people who have recently visited the northern areas.
“I heard reports of landslides before I left and was prepared for the worst … but by the time we reached the Babusar peak, the roads had already been cleared,” said Simran Abeer, who recently returned from a trip to the north.
Earlier, on June 17, heavy rain triggered landslides and mudslides that temporarily blocked parts of the Karakoram Highway in Diamer and Baltistan Road in Skardu. Authorities cleared the roads and advised travelers to check conditions before departure.
The 24-year-old recalled that she did not experience active snowfall during her trip. “But I saw snow on top melting and muddy patches along the road,” she told the team over the phone.
Yusra Aiman, 30, who also visited GB in mid-June, said leaving early in the morning made all the difference to 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 told of delays in Chilas due to roadblocks. “We were stuck on the road for about 38 hours on June 20 and 21,” Simran said, a disruption unrelated to the viral weather warnings circulating online.
What is actually happening on earth
Safi Ullah, Deputy Director of Tourism for GB, 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 through GB, the other through Naran-Kaghan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. With the monsoon season now underway, heavy rainfall could trigger flooding, particularly in the Diamer district, which is experiencing warmer temperatures than much of the region.
“If rainfall exceeds normal levels, there is a risk 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 was not a daily occurrence. “Travellers should simply check official advice before starting their journey,” the deputy director advised.
Raza Haider, Director North of 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 common phenomenon in GB. 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, especially 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 GB.
Both experts pointed to the same solution for travel anxiety: check official advice before you set off. Travelers can also contact the tourist police helpline for live updates on road and weather conditions.
‘Ideal Time’
Last week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in advisories issued from June 27 to July 3, warned of rainfall coupled with rapid glacial melting across GB and KP, which could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides, debris flows and rising river levels.
Safi Ullah elaborated that the GLOF warnings were aimed at remote interior valleys and were unlikely to affect the Karakoram Highway itself. In the event of rainfall, even if moderate, landslides can 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 warnings for the 10 days after July 3. However, it should be noted that rain forecasts can never be completely accurate.
To go or not to go
The reality of GB in summer is this: Local weather events, landslides and a cloudburst in the 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 setting off. Follow updates from PMD, NDMA and GB authorities. Avoid traveling 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 Climate Myths and Misinformation, supported by Irada and IMS
