Pakistan Drafts National Strategy to Protect Glaciers and Combat Climate Risks

Pakistan has drafted a National Glaciers Preservation Strategy to address the growing risks posed by accelerated glacier melt, as the country faces increasing threats to water security and vulnerable mountain communities. The draft strategy has been prepared by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and is currently under stakeholder consultations, seeking input from federal and provincial departments, technical experts, and development partners.

The strategy provides a national framework to enhance resilience against glacier-related impacts on water resources, ecosystems, and downstream livelihoods. Rapid changes in glacier behavior are affecting river flows and seasonal water availability, making proactive measures critical for sustainable water management.

A central component of the draft strategy is systematic glacier monitoring and the integration of glacial data into national and provincial water planning. Officials emphasize that improved data and forecasting are essential for managing future water risks linked to climate change. The strategy also prioritizes strengthening early warning systems to mitigate the risk of glacial lake outburst floods, which threaten settlements and infrastructure in high-risk areas.

The plan calls for better preparedness and response mechanisms in glacier-dependent regions and encourages close coordination between federal and provincial institutions to ensure effective implementation. By aligning glacier preservation and risk reduction with Pakistan’s broader climate adaptation and resilience initiatives, the strategy highlights glaciers as a vital part of the country’s climate-sensitive water and environmental systems.

Pakistan hosts one of the largest concentrations of glaciers outside the polar regions, and experts warn that rising temperatures are accelerating melt rates, increasing flood risks in the short term while posing potential water shortages over the long term.