Hunza (Asif Mehmood Awan): Hunza water projects are changing lives across Karimabad, Ganesh, Hyderabad, Aliabad, and Doorkhan in Gilgit district. Worth crores of rupees, these initiatives include clean drinking water systems and irrigation channels that serve thousands of families.
A major milestone is the water channel in the Altar Nala, built at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. This project blocks sand and debris from melting glaciers before they damage fields in Karimabad. WWF Pakistan completed the work in 2024 under its Water Resource Accountability Project. A village-level committee now manages and maintains the system to ensure sustainable use.
During a study tour, WWF Pakistan’s Communication Manager Nisar Ahmed and Social Mobilizer Safdar Hussain briefed visiting journalists, including Punjab Union of Journalists President Atif Qayyum and Press Club President Sardar Naveed Alam. They explained how Hunza water projects meet both agricultural and drinking water needs, directly improving livelihoods and reducing health-related hardships.
The fertile valley now produces potatoes, wheat, barley, and corn, alongside fruits like apples, cherries, pears, apricots, peaches, grapes, and walnuts. These products not only meet local needs but also attract tourists worldwide who value Hunza’s fresh produce and vibrant orchards. Before these projects, however, the community endured water shortages and sand-clogged fields, which often reduced harvests and created hardship.
In Ganesh, WWF installed a water filtration plant at the Government Middle School at a cost of Rs 2 million. They also set up six additional filtration plants across the area. According to the school headmistress and local residents, contaminated water once caused stomach diseases and low attendance among children. With clean drinking water now available, attendance has improved and health issues have sharply declined, creating a healthier learning environment.
WWF Pakistan has expanded its Water Resource Accountability Project to ten districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. By protecting natural resources and ensuring water availability, Hunza water projects safeguard both the environment and the community’s future while offering a model for sustainable rural development in mountainous regions.
Read climate-related news here: https://greenpost.com.pk/
