The findings by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan’s policymakers and the broader region.
The alarming decline in snow cover across the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is not merely an environmental concern; it is a grave threat to water security, food production, and economic stability for millions who depend on the Indus River Basin. When nearly half of the basin’s run-off is tied to meltwater, a sustained reduction in snow reserves signals trouble; it can no longer be dismissed as a cyclical variation.
Pakistan relies on the Indus system as its agricultural backbone, yet water management practices remain outdated and inefficient. The data cited in the report—showing a steep and persistent drop in snow cover—should compel immediate action.
Instead, authorities continue to operate with a reactive mind-set, responding to crises only after they materialise. This approach is not viable in the face of accelerating climate change. As the report rightly emphasizes, the time has come to transition from emergency responses to proactive, science-based governance.
Salmaan Shahnawaz, Karachi
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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