ISLAMABAD: High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan has raised concern over the accelerating melting of Pakistan’s glaciers, warning of serious implications for water security.
In a statement shared after flying over the Shispar Glacier, the envoy noted that Pakistan hosts over 13,000 glaciers — the highest number outside the polar regions — and that their rapid melting poses a threat to the water supply of more than 50 million people.
He referred to last year’s glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) linked to Shispar Glacier, which caused damage in Hassanabad, highlighting the increasing risks posed by climate change-induced glacial activity.
The High Commissioner emphasized that global warming is accelerating glacier melt across Pakistan, underscoring the need for urgent climate action and mitigation efforts to address the growing environmental challenge.
Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, with experts warning that continued glacier loss could have far-reaching consequences for water availability, agriculture, and disaster risk in the region.
