Shrinking glaciers: a threat to ecological balance
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 an attempt to stem the gushing water and salvage belongings.
"The water flow in River Swat has been increasing every summer due to the rapid melting of glaciers and erratic rainfalls," said Asim.
Transporting 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. "Our streams used to flow steadily. Now, they either dry up or flood unpredictably," he said.
He blamed illegal construction, glaciers melting, encroachment, and deforestation for amplifying the river's velocity and destructive power.
For 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.
"We now depend on rain, which is rarely sufficient. Sometimes, we lose entire crops to drought or sudden floods," he lamented.
Swat's glaciers are vital to the Indus River system and its tributaries, supplying clean water to millions and sustaining the region's fragile ecosystem.
However, their rapid retreat due to global warming is posing a grave threat.
"As temperatures rise, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, triggering ecological, social, and economic consequences," said environmental expert Dr Shafiqur Rehman.
Pakistan hosts over 7,253 glaciers-more 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's Tirich Mir range, which feed major rivers such as the Swat, Panjkora, Kabul, and Indus.
"Our irrigation systems depend heavily on these glaciers," said Dr Rehman, adding with rapid population growth and shrinking glaciers, Pakistan faces an impending water crisis-and by extension, food insecurity.
Citing 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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's scorching summer: a nation in the front line of climate breakdown — I
Pakistan is experiencing its hottest and most extreme summer of the decade. This crisis is not a natural occurrence, but the result of years of unchecked environmental degradation that have pushed the climate system to a breaking point. What was once considered an anomaly is now becoming an alarming new norm. In the first half of 2025 alone, Pakistan has been struck by two major climate-related disasters: an extreme heatwave in Sindh and a devastating glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Gilgit-Baltistan. The heatwave pushed temperatures in Jacobabad beyond 52°C, while the GLOF wiped out entire communities in Hunza Valley, displacing thousands. Since April 2025, a series of intense heatwaves have struck Pakistan, with June bringing the most brutal temperatures. Dera Ghazi Khan recorded highs of 50°C, while Lahore, Sargodha, and other urban centers soared around 47°C to 49°C. Even regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, historically known cooler zones, have reported unseasonably high temperatures. Countless factors contribute to the single, predominant challenge of climate change. While Pakistan battles record-breaking heatwaves and growing climate instability, it's important to acknowledge a harsh truth: the country is suffering the consequences of a crisis it did not create. Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan faces some of the most devastating impacts of climate change. Pakistan's climate change vulnerability is deeply linked to its geography. Pakistan lies at the crossroads of melting glaciers, arid zones, and low-lying coastal areas. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2021) places Pakistan among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries. Global warming, which is driven largely by industrialized nations, has raised baseline temperatures around the world, setting the stage for more frequent and intense heat events. Shifts in atmospheric patterns, including high-pressure systems that trap heat, further exacerbate the problem. In Pakistan's rapidly expanding cities, heat is magnified by the urban heat island effect, as concrete structures and reduced green cover retain and radiate warmth. Meanwhile, widespread deforestation and soil degradation leave the land dry and unable to cool naturally. Faiza Riasat (A student of NUST, Environmental Engineering IESE) Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Business Recorder
India monsoon season death toll hits 69 after floods, landslides
SHIMLA: Flash floods and landslides after torrential rain over the last two weeks killed at least 69 people and injured 110 others in India's northern Himalayan regions, officials said Friday. Scores of people die each year during the rainy season due to flash floods and landslides across India, a country of 1.4 billion people. Rivers swollen by lashing rain – including the mighty Beas, which starts from the region's glacial peaks – disrupted several routes in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The 'cumulative damage' includes 69 people dead, and 110 others injured in different incidents over the past two weeks, the state's revenue department said in a statement. India's meteorological department Thursday issued a fresh alert for 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' in Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand, another picturesque Himalayan state popular with Indian tourists. India's annual monsoon season from June to September offers respite from the intense summer heat and is crucial for replenishing water supplies, but also brings widespread death and destruction. Heavy monsoon rains claimed at least 30 lives and injured dozens in India's remote northeast region in June. It led to the Brahmaputra, another major river that originates in the Himalayas, overflowing into nearby towns and villages in India's state of Assam. India to see above-average July rains after wetter than normal June Other instances of landslides and flash floods were also reported in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur, with authorities pressing the Indian military to aid in relief and rescue operations. South Asia is getting hotter and in recent years has seen shifting weather patterns, but scientists are unclear on how exactly a warming planet is affecting monsoons. Last month, India's financial capital Mumbai was swamped by monsoon rain that began two weeks earlier than usual, the earliest for nearly a quarter of a century, according to weather forecasters.
Express Tribune
01-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Shrinking glaciers: a threat to ecological balance
Asim Ali, a 55-year-old resident of Oshu village in Upper Kalam, watched helplessly as water surged into his stone house, as 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 an attempt to stem the gushing water and salvage belongings. "The water flow in River Swat has been increasing every summer due to the rapid melting of glaciers and erratic rainfalls," said Asim. Transporting 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. "Our streams used to flow steadily. Now, they either dry up or flood unpredictably," he said. He blamed illegal construction, glaciers melting, encroachment, and deforestation for amplifying the river's velocity and destructive power. For 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. "We now depend on rain, which is rarely sufficient. Sometimes, we lose entire crops to drought or sudden floods," he lamented. Swat's glaciers are vital to the Indus River system and its tributaries, supplying clean water to millions and sustaining the region's fragile ecosystem. However, their rapid retreat due to global warming is posing a grave threat. "As temperatures rise, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, triggering ecological, social, and economic consequences," said environmental expert Dr Shafiqur Rehman. Pakistan hosts over 7,253 glaciers-more 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's Tirich Mir range, which feed major rivers such as the Swat, Panjkora, Kabul, and Indus. "Our irrigation systems depend heavily on these glaciers," said Dr Rehman, adding with rapid population growth and shrinking glaciers, Pakistan faces an impending water crisis-and by extension, food insecurity. Citing 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.
