MUZAFFARABAD: Facing mounting threats from climate change to Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) water security, the region’s Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday convened a high-level consultative meeting under the mandate of the newly formed Task Force on the Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources.

The session brought together national and state-level specialists in hydrology, land management, and environmental sciences from government, academia, and the private sector.

Experts warned that AJK’s geographic location made it especially vulnerable to shrinking glacial cover, vanishing springs, declining groundwater tables, and the rapid depletion of inland water sources.

In several highland areas, the disappearance of perennial springs had already forced rare instances of migration. In the plains and hilly terrains, they noted, unregulated groundwater extraction through boreholes was further deepening the crisis.

AJK Secretary for Environment and Wildlife Aamir Mehmood Mirza said the Task Force — comprising senior cabinet members, secretaries, and sector experts — had been assigned to analyse these impacts and propose solutions.

He identified rainwater harvesting as a promising short- to medium-term measure and stressed that groundwater potential zoning and aquifer mapping should be the starting point for evidence-based planning.

EPA Director Shafiq Abbasi cautioned that over the past decade, rising temperatures and declining rainfall had already created severe shortages in mountainous regions, while the loss of glacial reserves was undermining the main water sources for the region’s rivers.

If current trends persist, he warned, both rural and urban populations could face acute water scarcity.

Participants called for adaptation measures such as rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, and creation of surface pondages for irrigation, alongside mitigation strategies to curb climate impacts.

They also emphasised the importance of inter-agency coordination, robust data collection, and continuous monitoring of aquifer health.

Chairing the meeting, AJK Additional Chief Secretary (General) Midhat Shehzad praised the EPA’s efforts and urged the development of a practical, results-oriented roadmap.

“Our priority is to protect water sources, preserve forests, and promote environmentally friendly practices,” she said. “We must value the blessing of rainwater and ensure it is harnessed wisely.”

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2025