MANSEHRA: The large glaciers which were once the beauty and source of pleasant weather even in hot summer in Kaghan valley are fast melting away owing to rapid urbanisation and global warming.

“I have visited tourist resorts across Pakistan, but Kaghan valley is an exception as glaciers, though melting away rapidly, are making this picturesque valley superior to other such destinations,” Mohammad Ali, a tourist from Lahore said, demanding of the government to take measure to preserve the glaciers.

Kaghan valley lying along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road has stunning attractions like Saiful Muluk Lake, which are visited by tourists in large numbers broth from within the country and outside.

However, a big glacier at the entrance of Naran Bazaar is rapidly losing ground as people use the snow in the summers to cool off water.

“I have personally seen a man cutting away the glacier with an axe. But, the district administration is yet to move to ask people not to damage the beautiful glacier,” said the tourist from Lahore.

Kaghan valley has lost many glaciers from Kaghan to Naran and one can see the black sites on the land, where the glaciers once existed.

A big glacier situated at Naran-Saiful Muluk road is still a big attraction for tourists and those who disembark from their jeeps in front of it while visiting Saiful Muluk Lake can’t withstand the freezing winds emanating from the snow mass.

“Taking snap with family in front of this glacier in severe cold or going inside a hole created into it owing to melting is an awesome experience,” Rahila, a tourist from Faisalabad, said.

She said those who never visited these glaciers should come with their families to enjoy the pleasant weather and pollution-free environment.

Ms Rahila said the government should take steps to preserve rapidly vanishing glaciers. “This picturesque valley receives heavy snowfall every year which is a source of preserving these glaciers, but their fast melting owing to changing weather and rapid urbanisation is a cause for concern,” she said.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2016