Islamabad, Mar 21, 2025: As the world marks World Glacier Day, environmental experts have expressed deep concerns about the rapid melting of glaciers in Azad Kashmir due to climate change.
This alarming trend poses a significant threat to the region’s water supply and ecological balance.
Azad Kashmir is home to 224 glaciers, spanning 109 square kilometers, primarily in the Neelum Valley. According to climate scientist Dr. Sardar Muhammad Rafiq, these glaciers are melting at an unprecedented pace.
He revealed that the region’s temperature has risen by over two degrees Celsius in the past six decades—higher than the global average.
“If the current rate of glacier melting continues, Azad Kashmir could lose all of its glaciers within the next 50 years,” Dr. Rafiq warned.
He stressed that around 80% of the area’s clean water supply depends on these glaciers, making their conservation an urgent priority.
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To prevent an impending water crisis, he urged authorities to implement immediate protective measures.
Glaciers: The Lifeline of Our Planet
On the occasion of World Glacier Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the vital role glaciers play in sustaining life on Earth.
He called for a united global effort to protect these essential ice reserves, emphasizing that their disappearance would endanger millions of people who rely on them for fresh water.
This year marks the first official observance of World Glacier Day, highlighting the urgency of glacier preservation
. Pakistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers, faces a dire situation, as more than 10,000 are melting rapidly.
The consequences of this phenomenon include rising risks of floods, droughts, and ecological instability.
The devastating 2022 floods, which caused damages worth $30 billion, serve as a grim reminder of the climate crisis Pakistan is battling.
Call for Global Support
PM Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to glacier conservation and urged the international community to extend substantial support to countries facing severe climate challenges.
He emphasized the need for sustainable policies, robust climate adaptation strategies, and global cooperation to mitigate the effects of glacier loss.
With the crisis escalating, experts insist on immediate climate action, stricter environmental policies, and public awareness campaigns to preserve these critical ice reserves.
Protecting glaciers is not just a regional concern—it is a global imperative to ensure water security and environmental stability for future generations.
