MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas has urged Islamabad to provide adequate funds to the governments in Muzaffarabad and Gilgit to help them combat the challenges of climate change.

“…the impact of climate consequences in the territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), which are home to the famed peaks, glaciers and alpine forests, can be devastating for the entire country, which is why these areas need special attention including adequate funds to tackle this threat,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Quoting some researchers, Mr Ilyas maintained thatincrease in average global temperature and extreme and unpredictable weather were occurring more rapidly in the mountainous regions, thusincreasing the vulnerability of all life forms alike.

“Fastmelting glaciers, decreased annual precipitation, shortened snow season and rainfall on snow in early spring,frequent avalanches and landslides necessitate special measures in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan which cannot be taken without adequate funding by the international community through the government of Pakistan,” he said.

He pointed out that the temperature of many AJK towns, including the state capital Muzaffarabad, had increased rapidly in the past few years, which had a harmful impact on the population and environment.

“Ironically, even the ‘little doomsday’ of October 2005 has failed to wake us up to the hazards of playing with nature, as we are still hell-bent on disturbing the environment in one or the other way,” he said. The prime minister also took serious exception to faulty constructions, particularly along mountain slopes and watercourses, and said he had issued stern directions to all authorities concerned to address these issues on a war footing.

He said mountain people should also realize that the forests were vital to life on planet earth, as they acted as an important buffer against climate change.

“Unless every member of society puts his share in tackling climate change with a missionary zeal, this gigantic target cannot be achieved,” he said.

Published in Dawn, january 7th, 2023