Illegal Glacier Cutting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Threatens Environment

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, illegal cutting and commercial exploitation of glaciers in areas like Dir, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Kaghan, and Naran are causing serious environmental issues. These activities violate environmental laws and threaten the region’s ecological balance.

Pakistan has over 7,000 glaciers, the largest ice mass outside the polar regions. These glaciers are crucial for local communities, providing water for irrigation and sustaining life. However, climate change is causing these glaciers to melt rapidly, leading to floods and other disasters.

Shockingly, some people are illegally extracting glacier ice for commercial purposes, depleting these vital resources. Reports indicate that during Ramazan, 200 to 300 mini-trucks loaded with ice blocks were transported daily from Upper Dir to other regions.

Despite international environmental obligations, Pakistan lacks specific laws to protect glaciers. The Environmental Protection Act of 1997, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act of 2014, and the Climate Change Act of 2017 do not address glacier protection.

Other countries like Argentina and Tajikistan have enacted glacier protection laws. Pakistan must follow suit to safeguard its glaciers, which are essential for water supply, biodiversity, and climate regulation.

Glacier depletion disrupts ecological balances, affects local flora and fauna, and accelerates global warming. It also threatens tourism, a significant source of income for local communities.

Pakistan, a signatory to the Paris Agreement and other international treaties, must act to protect its glaciers. The federal and KP governments need to enact legislation to preserve these critical natural resources.