Protect Your Home From Snow and Cold in Northern Pakistan: NDMA's Winter Rules

Short answer: Before snow arrives, strengthen a weak roof, clear snow from it often, keep doors and windows clear, store food, water, medicine and warm clothes, and burn fuel only in a ventilated room. These are the home rules in NDMA's winter plan, the national disaster authority's own guide. Watch for cracks in walls, a sagging roof and creaking sounds.

Winter in Pakistan runs from October to March. NDMA's winter plan names the main hazards as snowfall, avalanches, landslides, cold waves, blizzards, and fog and smog. This page covers the home and family rules for snow and cold, mostly for northern and hilly areas.

We read NDMA's National Winter Contingency Plan for October to December 2025, signed on 8 October 2025. It is the latest plan we could open. We did not find a 2026 edition, so check NDMA's website for a newer one. The home rules are general safety advice that does not change from year to year.

Strengthen the roof before the first heavy snow

NDMA says heavy snow and rain can cause road blockages, avalanches and damage to weak buildings. Its first rule is about the roof. If your house has a weak roof, strengthen it before the bad weather by adding wooden or metal support beams.

The plan lists five roof rules. Add support beams to a weak roof. Clear snow from the roof regularly with a shovel or broom so the weight does not build up. Avoid flat roofs where you can, because they are at greater risk of collapse, and a sloped roof lets snow slide off. Cover the roof with waterproof plastic sheets to reduce snow and water build up. Watch for cracks in walls, a sagging roof and creaking sounds, which show weakness.

If you see these warning signs, move the family out of that room. Do not wait for the next snowfall.

Keep exits clear and stock supplies for a long spell

NDMA tells people to stay indoors during heavy snowfall or rain unless they must go out. It asks households to remove accumulated snow from doorways and windows, so there is always a way in and out.

It also asks families to store food, drinking water, warm clothing, medicine and firewood in case snowfall lasts a long time. Roads can close for days in hill districts, so plan for at least several days.

The table follows NDMA's list, and the reasons in the right column are our plain explanations.

Heat your home without letting carbon monoxide build up

NDMA says to avoid open flames inside the house and to use properly ventilated heaters or stoves. It also says to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by ensuring proper ventilation when using wood or coal burning stoves, so toxic gas does not build up.

Carbon monoxide has no colour and no smell. A stove or heater in a closed room can fill it with the gas while people sleep. Keep a window or vent open a little, and do not sleep with a fuel stove burning in a shut room.

For gas heaters, the rules are in the guide to using a gas heater or geyser safely. For cylinders, see the checks in how to check an LPG cylinder is safe and legal.

Help neighbours and follow official alerts

NDMA's plan also asks communities to look after each other. Help older and disabled neighbours clear snow and water from their homes and keep them safe. If a school or community centre is used as a shelter, it must be structurally sound and stocked with emergency supplies.

It asks people to follow weather forecasts and advisories from local authorities and disaster agencies. NDMA also advises checking the daily air quality in its mobile app during smog. See the page on how to get NDMA alerts, the helpline and the app. For the season's weather outlook, read our summary of the PMD outlook for October to December 2026.

1. Inspect your roof and add supports if it is weak.
2. Buy waterproof sheets and a shovel or broom for snow.
3. Store food, water, medicine, warm clothes and firewood.
4. Check your heater or stove and keep a vent open.
5. Save the NDMA helpline 051-111-157-157 and your local Rescue 1122 number.

Common questions

How do I know if my roof is unsafe in snow?

NDMA says to watch for cracks in walls, a sagging roof and creaking sounds. These show structural weakness. Strengthen the roof or move out before more snow falls.

How often should I clear snow from my roof?

NDMA says to clear it regularly so the weight does not build up. It does not give a set number of hours, so clear it after each heavy fall.

Is it safe to use a wood or coal stove in a closed room?

No. NDMA says to keep proper ventilation with wood or coal burning stoves, to avoid a build up of toxic gas.

What should I store before winter?

NDMA lists food, drinking water, warm clothing, medicine and firewood, in case snowfall lasts a long time.

Where can I get official weather and disaster alerts?

Follow the Pakistan Meteorological Department's forecasts and NDMA's advisories and app. NDMA lists its helpline as 051-111-157-157.

Does this plan apply to the whole country?

The roof and snow rules are written for rural and mountainous areas. The heating and community rules are useful anywhere in Pakistan.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026. We read NDMA's National Winter Contingency Plan for October to December 2025, including the snowfall safety guidelines and the winter smog guidelines, and NDMA's advisories page. The plan's hypothermia and frostbite pages and its winter travel pages are images that we could not read, so this page does not cover them. We did not call the NDMA helpline.