Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Urges Federal Government to Create Climate Fund
Lawmakers in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly have passed a resolution calling on the federal government to establish a special "green fund." This fund is intended to protect the region's rapidly melting glaciers and fragile ecosystem from the escalating impacts of global warming. The resolution unanimously approved by the assembly highlights the severe threat climate change poses to GB and its future generations. Lawmakers demanded that the federal government provide compensation, water rights, and water royalty through development packages, asserting this is a matter of justice and fairness. They specifically urged the creation of the green fund to support environmental preservation, clean water projects, waste management, and effective environmental protection measures. The assembly also called upon the relevant ministries to develop a comprehensive plan for glacier protection, following GB's recent establishment of a Glaciers Protection Authority. Deputy Speaker Malik Kifayatur Rehman attributed glacier melt partly to carbon emissions from neighboring countries like India and China, emphasizing that GB receives no direct benefit for its significant contribution of fresh water. PML-N lawmaker Ibrahim Sanai echoed these sentiments, demanding compensation for damages attributed to pollution from India and China. PPP member Zulfiqar Ali Murad pointed to local factors such as tourism, unplanned construction, and increased traffic as contributors to glacier melt and downstream flooding, citing a recent glacier outburst flood that isolated the Hisper road in Nagar. Opposition leader Hafeezur Rehman called for an investigation into alleged corruption and misuse of climate change funds, claiming billions of rupees have been wasted with a lack of transparency regarding the one percent of development project budgets allocated for climate initiatives. MWM lawmaker Kazim Mesum identified rising river and stream water levels as a primary cause of erosion. GB Chief Minister Amjad Hussain acknowledged the regional government's financial limitations for rehabilitation and housing flood victims, promising to submit a damage assessment report to the federal government while confirming the ongoing efforts of the GB Disaster Management Authority and district administration in emergency response.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly's resolution underscores the significant environmental and economic pressures facing high-altitude regions due to climate change. The call for a "special green fund," compensation, and water royalty reflects a growing demand for climate justice, where regions disproportionately affected by global emissions seek equitable resource allocation and adaptation support. The assembly's dual focus on external factors like transboundary emissions and internal issues such as unplanned development highlights the complex, multi-scalar nature of climate vulnerability. The allegations of corruption in fund utilization point to governance challenges that can impede effective climate action and adaptation efforts. Moving forward, establishing transparent mechanisms for fund management and impact assessment will be crucial. Furthermore, addressing the region's water rights in the context of national and international water resource management frameworks, especially given its role as a major freshwater source, presents a critical governance challenge for the next decade. The assembly's actions signal a proactive stance in seeking financial and policy support to mitigate climate risks and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
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