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By Nighat Aman
Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous region nestled among the
Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush, stands at the forefront of a severe
climate emergency. Home to over 7,000 glaciers, the largest concentration
outside the polar regions, this area is experiencing unprecedented glacier
retreat and an increase in natural disasters, causing devastating impacts on
communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
Accelerating Glacier Melt and Rising Flood Risks
In the summer of 2025, Gilgit-Baltistan experienced
record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures reaching 48.5°C, the highest ever
recorded at that altitude. These extreme temperatures, combined with intense
monsoon rains, caused a series of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs),
cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods. A major glacial burst in Ghizer
district in August 2025 led to widespread flooding, displacing hundreds of
families and damaging infrastructure.
Zahid Mahmood, a community member in Hassanabad, Hunza,
describes the ongoing threat: “Since 2019, sixteen households have been
destroyed by floods and glacial lake bursts. Now in 2025, water surges morning,
evening, and night; this is terrifying for our community.”
“Financially and mentally, we are traumatized. We are appealing to the government for a permanent, safer relocation, not just emergency fixes,” he adds.
Reporter Ali Ahmad from Gulmit describes recent disasters:
"I’ve never seen such flooding in my life. Water channels were washed
away, bridges collapsed, but miraculously, no lives were lost. Still, the
material loss was massive." He warns, “Our youth worry about the future;
the glaciers of their childhood are vanishing. Our message: save our glaciers,
save our future.”
Shifting Weather Patterns and Environmental Degradation
Early 2025 experienced late and heavy snowfall that disrupted glacier recharge, while frequent cloudbursts, sudden deluges exceeding 100mm per hour, have become increasingly common, overwhelming inadequate local infrastructure. Dr. Siddique Ullah Baig, an Associate Professor at COMSATS University Abbottabad and a fellow at NOVA University Lisbon, explains: ‘Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the largest glaciers outside the Polar Regions.
Any temperature rise directly accelerates their
melting, increasing risks of floods and glacial lake outbursts. Shifting
rainfall patterns compound the problem. Sudden cloudbursts and intense
downpours create flash floods that local infrastructure is ill-prepared to
handle. Agriculture, roads, and water systems are under serious strain.”
Dr. Baig provides detailed insights into the climate crisis and adaptation strategies in Gilgit-Baltistan. He emphasizes that, although relocating everyone from vulnerable areas is impossible due to deep ties to the land, there are practical steps that can be taken to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Afforestation is a key priority since Pakistan’s forest cover
is alarmingly low, at less than 2%, which is far below the global recommended
minimum of 20%. Protecting existing forests and increasing tree plantations,
particularly in flood-prone areas and around glacier moraines, can help
mitigate future flood risks.
Dr. Baig emphasizes the importance of early warning systems
to alert communities before disasters, enabling timely evacuations. He strongly
advises against constructing homes and infrastructure on historic flood
pathways, noting that floods naturally follow their established routes and will
destroy anything in their path. According to him, avoiding building in these
vulnerable channels is vital to prevent repeated loss and trauma.
He states that among Gilgit-Baltistan’s districts, Shigar is
the most prone to hazards and vulnerability, worsened by high poverty levels in
parts of Baltistan, such as Kharmang and Ghanche. The large glaciers there,
including the massive Biafo and Batura glaciers, further increase this
vulnerability.
Dr. Baig’s message strikes a balance between urgency and
realism, highlighting that while communities cannot control climate change
itself, coordinated local, institutional, and policy efforts can significantly
mitigate its severe impacts on lives and livelihoods.
Human Toll and Calls for Action
The human toll has been devastating, with homes destroyed,
agricultural land harmed, and tens of thousands displaced. Education expert
Fakhra Najeeb, managing director of Power 99, emphasizes: "Relocation must
be planned with community involvement and must include mental health and trauma
recovery measures. Children need emotional healing, not just bricks and
mortar.”
Governance and Global Responsibility
The government has responded with emergency evacuations
following recent glacier bursts, but urgent long-term investment in resilient
infrastructure remains essential. Dr. Muhammad Hanif, a respected
meteorologist, warns, ‚In Pakistan, the frequency and intensity of GLOF events
are increasing by 20 percent every year due to global warming and local factors
like deforestation and human interference in glacier regions.”
A Way Forward
Gilgit-Baltistan’s future relies on coordinated efforts at
local, national, and international levels. Protecting glaciers preserves water
resources for millions downstream. Preventing environmental harm and adopting
nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, will help decrease the risk of
landslides and floods. Including climate education in communities will empower
residents, especially young people, to face climate challenges with greater
resilience.
Only through continuous dedication from communities,
government agencies, experts, and international partners can Gilgit-Baltistan
confront the climate crisis and ensure a livable future for generations to
come.
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Nighat Aman is an Islamabad based journalist and media trainer from Gilgit-Baltistan, with over 20 years of experience in the media industry.
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