ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan ranked 5th on the list of countries greatly affected by climate change.
Pakistan, having the most number of glaciers around 7000 outside the polar region, is facing natural disasters due to climate change induced melting of glaciers.
Increases in the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses due to human activities are the main culprit behind melting of glaciers.
The rapid melting of glaciers in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has posed threat of floods, loss to the agriculture sector and water scarcity.
According to international organisations’ reports, Pakistan could be deprived of the water reservoirs in 15 years.
Pakistan could face extreme water scarcity by 2024 due to increase in temperature and population, as per Asian Development Bank.
Pakistan would lose most of its glaciers by 2050 which would lead to a water crisis.
The flash floods in 2022 adversely affected the 33 million population and the loss of 15 billion.
The explosion of glaciers and glacial lakes in Gilgit Baltistan and KP would impact 7.1 million people.
Only 3pc water on Earth is freshwater and around 68pc of that water is available in glaciers.
Freshwater in glaciers is getting mixed in oceans and rivers that are unstable for drinking.