PESHAWAR: A high court lawyer has approached the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking a probe into illegal harvest of glacial ice across the province and prosecute those responsible.

Tariq Afghan formally complained to the EPA about that illegal activity in the regions of Dir, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Kaghan, Naran and other parts of the province.

The complaint, a copy of which is available with Dawn, read, “These activities are in direct violation of the environmental protection statutes and regulations governing KP and pose a significant threat to the whole ecosystem, as glacier and their melt water create unique habitats for various species of plants, animal and microorganism, also a prime source for agriculture in the above mentioned areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

It added that KP was home to around 3,050 glaciers, which were primarily located in its northern regions and were vital for the region’s water resources and ecological balance.

“It has come to my attention that certain individuals and entities are engaging in the unauthorised extraction and transportation of glacier ice for commercial purposes, which involves cutting glaciers into large blocks. This exploitation is causing rapid depletion of these crucial natural resources,” it said.

The lawyer insisted that the unauthorised cutting of glaciers constituted a clear violation of the environmental protection laws and regulations in force within KP.

He added that those actions required immediate investigation and enforcement of the relevant legal penalties against the perpetrators.

Mr Afghan said depletion of glaciers disrupted the fragile ecological balance, adversely affecting local flora and fauna.

He added that the loss of these glaciers undermined efforts to preserve biodiversity and protect endangered species within those regions.

“The glaciers play an essential role in regulating the earth’s climate by reflecting solar radiation and maintaining global temperature balance. They serve as important freshwater reservoirs, so their degradation will result in a significant decrease in water availability for local communities, agricultural activities, and wildlife, thereby threatening food security and livelihoods,” he said.

The lawyer noted that Pakistan was a signatory to the Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity and several other agreements for the protection of the ecosystem.

“We, as a nation, are bound by the same international treaties to protect our reserves of glaciers,” he said.

The lawyer urged the EPA to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the illegal glacier cutting activities, identifying and prosecuting those responsible in accordance with the law.

He also called for the effective enforcement of the environmental protection laws and regulations to prevent further illegal exploitation of glaciers.

Mr Afghan also demanded the EPA to launch campaigns to educate local communities and stakeholders about the long-term environmental and economic consequences of glacier depletion and promote and support sustainable practices that ensure the conservation and protection of glaciers for future generations.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2024