The recent flooding in Gilgit-Baltistan is a reminder of how climate change is accelerating glacial melt and destabilising fragile mountain ecosystems. But this is not an isolated crisis. Across Pakistan, extreme weather events have unleashed a wave of destruction, claiming lives, displacing families, and damaging homes, roads, and livelihoods.
From the snow-covered peaks of the north to the densely populated cities of the south, the country is grappling with a climate emergency that is unfolding with alarming speed and intensity.
Unseasonal rains, cloudbursts, and glacial lake outburst floods have devastated entire communities. In the mountainous regions, melting glaciers have triggered landslides and flash floods. At the same time, in urban centres like Karachi and Lahore, overwhelmed drainage systems have led to waterlogging, power outages, and outbreaks of disease.
These events are not just natural disasters; they are symptoms of a changing climate, and they are becoming more frequent, severe, and unpredictable.
Preserving ice in glaciers is no longer just about slowing sea-level rise. It is about protecting vulnerable populations from cascading disasters that begin with melting ice and end in fractured infrastructure, disrupted agriculture, and shattered lives. In this context, technology is not a luxury; it is a lifeline.
Initiatives like ‘icepreservation.org’ are showing how science, sustainability, and community action can converge to create meaningful change. Passive cooling systems, artificial ice structures, and locally driven monitoring tools are helping stabilise glacial environments and reduce the risk of sudden flooding.
Technology is also transforming how we anticipate and respond to climate threats. Remote sensing, satellite imagery, and AI-powered climate models are helping predict glacial lake outbursts, monitor environmental changes, and guide early warning systems.
Mobile apps and digital platforms are empowering communities with real-time alerts and educational resources, fostering resilience from the ground up.
Around the world, similar innovations are being deployed to combat extreme weather. In Greenland, drones and AI models have helped predict glacial lake outbursts. In India and Bangladesh, flood forecasting systems are delivering early warnings to millions.
California is using AI to detect wildfires in real time, while East Africa and Japan are leveraging AI for weather and earthquake forecasting.
These examples underscore the immense potential of technology to reduce harm and build resilience. Yet, technology alone is not enough. It must be embedded in policy, supported by investment, and shaped by the lived experiences of those most affected.
Pakistan’s future depends on a collaborative approach, one that blends innovation with empathy and urgency with long-term vision. Saving ice in the glaciers is not just an environmental imperative; it is a humanitarian one.
By Shaukat Ali Khan – Advisor to the President – Aga Khan University & Executive CDIO – NHS West Yorkshire ICB
