Snowfall Breathes New Life into Glaciers

APP

Peshawar: As fresh snow blankets the high peaks of northern Pakistan, a quiet revival is unfolding across some of the country’s most iconic tourist landscapes. 

From the valleys of Chitral and Swat to the towering ranges of Gilgit-Baltistan, recent moderate to heavy snowfall has brought renewed hope—not only for shrinking glaciers, but also for communities and tourism economies that depend on them.

These glaciers, among Pakistan’s most breathtaking natural attractions, are more than scenic wonders. They feed the Indus River system and its tributaries, acting as vast freshwater reservoirs that sustain agriculture, livestock and millions of people downstream while shaping the region’s ecological balance and tourism appeal.

For locals like Sabir Ali, a resident of Bomburat Valley in Chitral, the return of deep winter cold feels like a long-lost companion.

“The snowfall we received recently will help increase the lifespan of our glaciers,” he said as icy winds swept through the valley. “The cold breeze from Trich Mir—the highest mountain in Pakistan outside Gilgit-Baltistan—has intensified again. This is something we haven’t felt properly in years.”

Sabir, a 55-year-old farmer, recalls a childhood when glaciers sat much closer to the village.

“Every year they retreat higher into the mountains,” he said. “Rising temperatures, deforestation and lack of snowfall have changed everything.”

For generations, glacier-fed irrigation sustained crops of wheat, barley, apples, peaches and apricots—produce that once defined local food culture and tourism markets. Today, unpredictable water flows and extreme weather have made farming uncertain, threatening both livelihoods and the region’s hospitality economy.

According to climate experts, these changes are accelerating. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that the Himalayan region—including Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan—is warming faster than the global average. Some glaciers are losing up to five meters of thickness annually, while deforestation and population growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further intensify the crisis.

Dr Bakhtiar Khan, a glaciologist, said recent snowfall has provided short-term relief but warned of long-term consequences.

“If current trends continue, KP alone could lose up to 60 percent of its glaciers by the end of this century,” he said.

Beyond water scarcity, melting glaciers heighten the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)—a growing threat to scenic valleys, roads, hotels and tourist infrastructure.

“We have seen the devastation in 2010, 2022 and again in 2025,” Dr Bakhtiar noted, referring to floods that swept away hotels, livestock and farmland in Swat and surrounding areas.

Tourism, a key economic pillar of northern KP, is also at stake.

Dr Salimur Rehman, former chairman of the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Peshawar, said glacier retreat threatens the very landscapes that draw visitors.

“Chitral and Swat are famous for their glacier views,” he said. “If glaciers continue to disappear, tourist inflows will decline, directly impacting local incomes.”

Shrinking habitats are also endangering wildlife that attracts eco-tourists, including the elusive snow leopard, whose hunting grounds and shelter are disappearing as ice melts.

Despite the challenges, hope lies in combining snowfall with large-scale afforestation.

Ahmad Jalil, Chief Conservator of Forests, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said forests play a crucial role in regulating temperatures and preserving glaciers.

“Recent snowfall, when combined with aggressive plantation, can significantly enhance glacier longevity,” he said. “Government departments, NGOs, village committees and local communities will be mobilized during the upcoming spring plantation campaign.”

Under Pakistan’s 10 Billion Tree Afforestation Project (10BTAP), KP has planted over 711 million saplings by December last year, achieving more than 98 percent of its enclosure targets.

“The success of this programme has strengthened Pakistan’s standing internationally,” Ahmad Jalil added.

As climate change continues to reshape northern Pakistan, snow-covered peaks, dense forests and living glaciers remain fragile allies. For tourists, they are scenes of breathtaking beauty; for locals, they are sources of water, food and survival. Preserving them is no longer just an environmental goal—it is essential for sustaining culture, livelihoods and the future of mountain tourism itself.