Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched the ToltHawk IoT Telemetry System to improve real time flood monitoring and strengthen early warning capabilities across the province amid rising climate related risks. Irrigation Minister Riaz Khan said modern technology has become essential to protect lives and property from floods, glacial lake outbursts, heavy rains, droughts, heatwaves, and landslides, speaking at a ceremony held in connection with the system’s launch and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the KP Irrigation Department, ToltHawk USA, and Flow Sense Global Pvt. Ltd.
During his remarks, Khan noted that the province had faced major floods in 2010, 2014, and 2022, with more than two million people affected during the 2022 floods alone. He said the new telemetry system will provide real time data on water levels, flood risks, and broader environmental conditions, giving authorities the information needed to make timely decisions and issue warnings to communities considered most vulnerable to flooding and related natural hazards. According to the minister, telemetry devices are already operational at three specific locations, the Dehri Bridge in Swat, Nowshera Bridge, and the Kurram River Kohat Road Bridge in Bannu, with live data streaming from these sites and integration with the province’s Decision Support System already complete.
Beyond the telemetry system itself, Khan said the government is working on a broader set of measures to strengthen flood protection infrastructure, expand water storage capacity, and improve the overall irrigation network across the province. He confirmed that a comprehensive flood protection plan covering 15 districts has already received approval, indicating that the ToltHawk system forms one part of a larger, coordinated effort to reduce flood related risks rather than functioning as a standalone technology initiative. The minister also pointed to the Chashma Right Bank Canal project, which is expected to bring approximately 286,000 acres of currently barren land in Dera Ismail Khan under cultivation, alongside other ongoing projects aimed at reducing flood risk and improving water management practices across the region.
Khan closed his remarks by framing the government’s broader strategy as a shift away from relying primarily on post disaster relief efforts, emphasizing instead a focus on preparedness, timely early warnings, and technology based solutions designed to protect lives before disasters strike. This shift in approach reflects a growing emphasis among provincial authorities on using real time monitoring tools and data driven decision making to manage climate related risks, particularly in a region that has experienced repeated and increasingly severe flooding events in recent years.
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