More Glaciers Exist in Pakistan than Almost Everywhere else on the Planet

 More Glaciers Exist in Pakistan than Almost Everywhere else on the Planet

Pakistan maintains more glacial ice than any other region on Earth, excluding the polar regions, with 7,253 known glaciers, including 543 in the Chitral Valley. These glaciers, which hold around 75% of the nation's water reserves in storage, are essential to maintaining its water supply. 

Researchers do caution that glaciers in Pakistan are retreating, particularly those at lower elevations like those in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's Hindu Kush mountain range. This alarming trend is attributed by scientists to a number of variables, including decreased snowfall, rising temperatures, stronger summer rainstorms, and extensive deforestation.

If climate change persists unchecked and transforms life-sustaining mountains into foreboders of human pain, the 1,000-square-mile Chitral Valley has emerged as a remarkable illustration of what the world may face in the future. The scenario is expected to get worse over the next few years, which will make things more difficult for the nearby villages. 

In order to protect not just the nature of the region but also the livelihoods of its people, Pakistan's glaciers are a vital resource, and tackling the dangers posed by climate change is of the utmost importance.