CHITRAL: Experts have raised objections about an upcoming festival in Broghil Valley here, calling it a potential threat to the fragile ecosystem of the area, surrounded by more than 20 glaciers, including Chiantar, the origin of the Chitral River.

They fear that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from petrol and diesel vehicles will have a disastrous impact on the glaciers, many of which lie dangerously close to the narrow artery running through the valley.

The experts also warn that vehicular movement will further degrade the peatland ecosystem for which Broghil is globally known.

The three-day festival is scheduled to commence on August 28 under the auspices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.

Experts warn three-day event could endanger glaciers, fragile peatlands in region

Hamid Ahmad Mir, coordinator of the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan Project of WWF, Chitral, told Dawn that the valley was U-shaped, with human settlements confined to a strip only half a kilometre-1.5 kilometres wide, through which the river flew, while glaciers were evenly distributed on both sides.

“The U-shaped nature of the valley makes it an airshed area where pollutants, once emitted, remain trapped for long periods, multiplying their impact,” he noted.

The valley’s ecological sensitivity stems from its abundance of glaciers, freshwater bio-active lakes such as Qarambar, rich biodiversity including endangered mammals, and fragile peatlands, according to him.

He noted that some glaciers lie only a stone’s throw from the road, with the Darkhot Glacier, already marked by fissures and cracks, situated right beside it.

“On top of that, the Broghil National Park is home to a unique peatland ecosystem which supports both biodiversity and local livelihoods. Ill-planned festivals in such fragile ecosystems can prove highly detrimental,” he warned.

According to Mir, hundreds of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles will emit greenhouse gases in large quantities, raising the carbon footprint and accelerating glacier melt. Black carbon settling on glaciers darkens their surfaces, reducing their ability to reflect sunlight and causing faster heat absorption.

The valley has also suffered from decades of peatland depletion, as local communities exploited it for fuel.

Conservationist Rehmat Aziz Khan warned that melting glaciers often formed unstable lakes that could trigger glacial lake outburst floods.

He also said climate change was threatening local biodiversity through habitat loss.

Dr Inayatullah Faizi, former project manager of IUCN in Chitral, acknowledged that while the festival might bring economic relief and exposure for the impoverished valley, its ecological costs couldn’t be ignored.

However, KPCTA event manager Mohammad Ali Syed remained firm.

“I will hold the festival at all costs,” he told Dawn over the phone.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025