NECESSITY is indeed the mother of invention, as witnessed in Gilgit-Baltistan. In these areas, where climate change has dramatically reduced snowfall and disrupted traditional water cycles, farmers are not waiting for salvation from the state. Instead, they are building alternatives in the form of shimmering towers of ice. Inspired by the work of environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, local villagers pipe water from streams, spray it into the frigid air, and let gravity and winter do the rest. These conical towers gradually melt during spring and summer, providing a lifeline to orchards and crops long before the natural glaciers begin to thaw. The ‘ice stupas’ have already transformed lives; where farmers could plant only once a year, they now sow multiple crops. Entire villages that once waited until June for water are irrigating fields as early as March. More than 20 villages, and over 16,000 people, have benefited — not through billion-rupee megaprojects, but through community willpower and practical knowledge-sharing.

In a country where droughts, floods, and mismanagement are often in the news, it is heartening to witness citizen-led innovation and optimism. The lesson is clear: water conservation is not solely the domain of engineers and ministries. Communities across Pakistan can embrace localised solutions: from rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation to fixing leaks and reducing wastage. Grey-water recycling, rooftop water storage, terraced farming, and school-based awareness programmes can also help promote long-term sustainability. In coastal areas, small-scale desalination units may offer relief. In urban centres, policies encouraging water-efficient appliances and reuse of treated wastewater in parks and construction will have a lasting impact. With temperatures rising and resources thinning, the future of water in Pakistan hangs in the balance. However, the villagers of Kharmang and Skardu remind us that resilience is possible, and that the coldest ideas can bring the warmest hope.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2025