HIGHLANDS OF GILGIT BALTISTAN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WATER RESOURCE CHALLENGES.
Dr. Pervaiz Amir and Sardar Muhammad Tariq
DATE: 21TH NOVEMBER 2017
STORY LINE Gilgit Baltistan store House of water Water quality emerging as serious concern Left out in CPEC agenda despite gateway Its economic potential and SDG Water inclusive development agenda PLEASE USE LESS WATER THERE IS SHORTAGE OF WATER
PROJECTED FUTURE CLIMATE
Increased temperature--showing Increased long-lasting heatwaves Decreased cold spells-vanishing winters Weak evaporation Increased dry spells Heavy rains but few Glaciers in turmoil with land Slides in NA NATURAL RESOURCES OF G.B
Human resources • Animal resources Atmospheric • Crop resources resources • Wildlife resources Water resources • Mineral resources Forest resource Trees absent so is WSM Livestock a and carrying capacity WATER RESOURCES
Gilgit-Baltistan is the Water Shed and Catchment of Indus Basin having an area of 72496 Sq Km.
The area lies at the confluence of the Karakorum, the Hindu Kush and the Himalaya mountain ranges consisting of about 27 % glaciers and snow deposits, the largest in the world outside polar region.
There are more than 40 Glaciers in GB. Main glaciers are Baltoro, Siachan, Biafo, Hispar and Batura.
Main Tributaries of Indus River are 6 (Suro River, Shyoke River, Shigar River, Gilgit River, Hunza River & Astore River).
WATER RELATED ISSUES
The Indus River bodies from the northernmost territory of Gilgit-Baltistan to the lower parts of Sindh are getting contaminated with high levels of lead and arsenic. Amounts of arsenic and lead are increasing in the water of the Indus at an alarming rate. GLOBAL WARMING Glaciers Melting
Pakistan’s 5,000 glaciers are retreating faster than any other part of the world, according to a new Pakistan Economic Survey 2014-15.
Land Sliding Northern area of Pakistan is mainly covered with mountains with three world’s biggest mountain range which are in peril to many natural disasters like earthquake, floods, landslides etc.
• Landslides are the most alarming and devastating hazard because it consistently endanger the people and civil infrastructure.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
Tourism Areas strewn with wrappers, empty bottles, boxes, plastic bags and food items included Diamer’s Fairy Meadows, Astor’s Deosai plains and Rama, Ghizer’s Phunder and Khalti lakes, Hunza, Skardu and Naltar.
Begging for trees trees and some trees Kk glacier are/not melting? Glaciers in trouble and so are water resources
Llittle to showcase at PC border
STRATEGIES Improvement of watershed management, particularly through massive reforestation campaigns. Development of water reservoirs and infrastructure in GB on fast track Taking up measures for the identification of vulnerable areas for flooding and LS Improvement in the disaster monitoring and early warning systems. Propose development Paradigm within SDG STRATEGIES Improvements in water supply for agricultural and domestic uses. Protecting fragile lands and culture from CPEC onslaught Applying Science and Management for sustainable future Water development for all with clear Benefit Sharing CONCLUSION
GB needs to be brought into CPEC development fold-well thought through facelift Preserving GB culture and environment Water quality control the priority Gravitational Flow and lift irrigation science Maintaining peace and the pristine environment within SDG framework