GB Assembly seeks special climate fund from Centre

Lawmakers in Gilgit-Baltistan have called on Pakistan's federal government to create a "special green fund" aimed at protecting the region's rapidly melting glaciers and fragile ecosystem from the escalating impacts of global warming. The regional assembly unanimously approved a resolution demanding compensation, water rights, and water royalties through development packages, asserting these measures are essential for justice and fairness.

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Therefore, we urge the federal government to establish a green fund for preserving its natural environment and water resources, promoting clean water projects, supporting waste management, and implementing effective environmental protection measures.

The resolution emphasizes the severe threat climate change poses to the mountainous region and future generations. It urges the federal government to allocate resources for preserving natural environments, promoting clean water projects, supporting waste management, and implementing effective environmental protection measures. The Gilgit-Baltistan region recently established a Glaciers Protection Authority.

During the debate, lawmakers highlighted that carbon emissions from neighboring countries, particularly India and China, contribute to the accelerated melting of glaciers. They stressed that Gilgit-Baltistan, a major source of fresh water for agriculture, receives inadequate returns and called for legislation to protect its water rights. Other factors contributing to glacier melt, such as tourism, unplanned construction, and increased traffic, were also cited, leading to consequences like frequent floods and infrastructure damage, such as the recent outburst flood that damaged the Hisper road.

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Local people were stranded; patients and pregnant women were unable to move; the area was also facing a potential food crisis.

Conversely, the opposition leader raised concerns about the alleged misuse of funds allocated for climate change impacts. He pointed to a lack of clarity regarding the use of one percent of the budget set aside for climate funds in annual development projects, alleging billions of rupees have been wasted and that emergency works during floods have become a source of corruption. The lawmakers also demanded the rehabilitation of affected families and the construction of protection embankments along rivers to control erosion.

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one per cent of the budget in the name of climate funds was set aside in every annual development project, but there was no clarity on the use of this money. He said billions of rupees were wasted.