ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Climate Change Shezra Mansab Khan has called for urgent action to protect Pakistan’s glaciers, snow reserves, and mountain communities, warning that climate change poses growing risks to the country’s long-term water security.

In a statement issued on World Environment Day in collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO), the minister highlighted the importance of safeguarding cryospheric resources, including glaciers, snow cover, and mountain ecosystems that support the Indus River system.

Shezra Mansab said Pakistan must use the ongoing Decade of Cryospheric Sciences as an opportunity to address environmental degradation and strengthen climate resilience. She noted that changing snowfall patterns and glacier melt are increasingly affecting water availability and environmental stability across the country.

The minister described mountain regions as critical to Pakistan’s water security, emphasizing their role in sustaining millions of people who depend on the Indus River system for agriculture, drinking water, and livelihoods.

She also acknowledged the efforts of PPAF and MGPO in supporting community-based climate resilience initiatives and environmental protection programs in vulnerable mountain regions.

The statement comes as Pakistan faces increasing climate-related challenges, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), water scarcity, and the broader impacts of rising temperatures on mountain ecosystems.

Climate experts have identified glacier preservation, sustainable water management, and community adaptation measures as key priorities for reducing climate risks and strengthening resilience in high-altitude regions.

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