The three men — Waseet Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan — had raised an early alarm about the looming glacier threat, enabling residents to evacuate the area and avert a major disaster.

Acknowledging their bravery, the prime minister presented each with a reward of Rs2.5 million and declared them “heroes of Gilgit-Baltistan.”

“Your timely action not only saved precious lives but also made the entire nation proud,” PM Shehbaz said while lauding their presence of mind.

He further noted that the Ministry of Climate Change is working on strengthening early warning systems in Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure swift responses in future emergencies.

The shepherds expressed gratitude for the recognition, while Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also attended the meeting.