Pakistan is facing a serious threat to its water resources as nearly 10,000 glaciers are retreating rapidly due to rising global temperatures, according to Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Monday, the minister revealed that melting glaciers have formed 3,044 lakes, with 33 classified as highly unstable. These lakes pose risks to around 7.1 million people living downstream.
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The country has experienced 75 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) incidents in recent years, highlighting its vulnerability to climate disasters. Malik also pointed out that Pakistan is receiving 40% less rainfall than its 30-year average, which endangers water availability, agriculture, and climate resilience.
The minister shared that Pakistan’s glacial regions, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, contain 13,032 glaciers, with the Indus Basin alone covering 26,000 square kilometres — about a quarter of the glaciers in the wider Third Pole region, which includes the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush.
To counter these challenges, the Ministry of Climate Change has implemented projects like GLOF-II, which set up early warning systems, weather stations, and river sensors in vulnerable valleys. Over 65,000 women have also been trained in climate-resilient farming methods.
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Other initiatives include the Living Indus Initiative for ecosystem restoration and the Recharge Pakistan programme focused on flood management and groundwater recharge.
In 2025, the ministry launched the Glacier Conservation Strategy to protect vital ice reserves and strengthen water security. However, Malik noted that Pakistan’s progress is hindered by limited financial resources, institutional challenges, and dependence on fossil fuels. The ministry is working with provincial governments to integrate climate risk into water policies and enhance adaptation efforts nationwide.
