Shrinking glaciers
\n KALAM
\nAsim Ali, a 55-year-old resident of Oshu village in Upper Kalam, watched helplessly as water surged into his stone house, a result of the rising River Swat.
\nThe recent flooding, triggered by the accelerated melting of glaciers combined with heavy rains, forced many villagers to hastily place sandbags around their homes in an attempt to stem the gushing water and salvage belongings.
\n\u201cThe water flow in River Swat has been increasing every summer due to the rapid melting of glaciers and erratic rainfalls,\u201d said Asim, who was rebuilding the outer wall of his house that was washed away by the floodwaters.
\nTransporting stones on donkeys from nearby mountains, Asim and his family are trying to restore their damaged home. He recalled a time when glaciers were much closer to the village. \u201cOur streams used to flow steadily. Now, they either dry up or flood unpredictably,\u201d he said.
\nHe blamed illegal construction, glaciers melting, encroachment, and deforestation for amplifying the river\u2019s velocity and destructive power.
\nFor generations, villagers like Asim have mostly relied on glacier fed irrigation to cultivate crops such as wheat, barley, peaches, and apricots. But changing water patterns have made farming increasingly uncertain. \u201cWe now depend on rain, which is rarely sufficient. Sometimes, we lose entire crops to drought or sudden floods,\u201d he lamented.
\nThe threat from melting glaciers, for Asim\u2019s community, is more than environmental\u2014it\u2019s existential. \u201cIf the glaciers vanish, how will we survive? How will we feed our families?\u201d he asked, his voice tinged with despair.
\nAdding to their woes, the region\u2019s forests are under strain. \u201cClimate change is disrupting plant growth. Native species are struggling, while invasive ones are spreading,\u201d he added, urging for small dam projects and large-scale afforestation to conserve water and reduce flood risks.
\nSwat\u2019s glaciers are vital to the Indus River system and its tributaries, supplying clean water to millions and sustaining the region\u2019s fragile ecosystem. However, their rapid retreat due to global warming is posing a grave threat.
\n\u201cAs temperatures rise, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, triggering ecological, social, and economic consequences,\u201d said Prof. Dr. Shafiqur Rehman, former Chairman of the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Peshawar, in a conversation with APP.
\nPakistan hosts over 7,253 glaciers\u2014more than anywhere outside the polar regions. Notable among them are Baltoro (63 km), Biafo (67 km), and Batura (57 km) in Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as nearly 500 glaciers in Upper Chitral\u2019s Tirich Mir range, which feed major rivers such as the Swat, Panjkora, Kabul, and Indus.
\n\u201cOur irrigation systems depend heavily on these glaciers,\u201d said Dr. Rehman. \u201cBut with rapid population growth and shrinking glaciers, Pakistan faces an impending water crisis\u2014and by extension, food insecurity.\u201d
\nCiting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), he noted that the Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average. Some glaciers are losing up to five meters in thickness each year. Since glaciers act as natural reservoirs, storing water and releasing it gradually, their accelerated melting is upsetting this balance.
\nDr. Rehman, who has spent over a decade researching the region\u2019s glaciers, warned, \u201cIf the current trend continues, we could lose up to 60% of our glaciers by the end of the century.\u201d
\nBeyond water shortages, glacier melt increases the risk of natural disasters like glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). These lakes, often held back by fragile natural dams, can burst due to minor earthquakes or temperature spikes, causing catastrophic flooding downstream.
\nTo counter these threats, Dr. Rehman emphasized both global and local action: \u201cWe need to cut greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, but we also need reforestation, better water management, and early warning systems for GLOFs at the community level.\u201d
\nIn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the impact is already being felt through erratic water availability, biodiversity loss, and the formation of dangerous glacial lakes.
\nSwat, once dubbed the \u201cSwitzerland of Pakistan,\u201d has witnessed multiple disasters\u2014including a flood that swept away 18 tourists.
\nGlacial retreat is also undermining tourism. \u201cWith glaciers shrinking, trekking routes are vanishing, and tourist numbers are declining,\u201d Dr. Rehman explained. He recalled Baltoro Glacier once being a prime destination for adventurers. \u201cNow, it\u2019s dangerous to cross and parts of it are inaccessible.\u201d
\nThis decline threatens local economies in regions like Swat, Chitral, and Gilgit-Baltistan, where many families depend on tourism for their livelihoods. Moreover, Swat\u2019s unique alpine flora and fauna, adapted to cold, high-altitude conditions, are at risk of extinction as glaciers vanish.
\nDespite the challenges, hope remains. Local and international organizations are working together on sustainable solutions. Initiatives include installing early warning systems for GLOFs and launching reforestation projects to improve water retention and reduce erosion.
\nGiven the far-reaching consequences of glacial retreat\u2014from agriculture and tourism to water supply and biodiversity\u2014Pakistan urgently needs effective adaptation and prevention strategies.
\nDr. Rehman praised national efforts, particularly large-scale afforestation programs, which have gained international recognition. He expressed optimism that the UN\u2019s COP27 climate fund would soon be operational, with Pakistan receiving a significant share due to its high vulnerability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shrinking glaciers KALAM Asim Ali, a 55-year-old resident of Oshu village in Upper Kalam, watched helplessly as water surged into his stone house, a result of the rising River Swat. The recent flooding, triggered by the accelerated melting of glaciers combined with heavy rains, forced many villagers to hastily place sandbags around their homes in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-487827","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n