Islamabad, October 10, 2019 (PPI-OT): The GLOF II project in collaboration with University of Baltistan (UoB), AKRSP and Wafa Foundation Skardu inaugurated a Glacier Grafting campaign in Kuwardo village today. Over a hundred volunteers from the local community participated with a high female participation. University of Baltistan currently working on research and development in Baltistan will provide technical support for the campaign. Prior to the inauguration, local community volunteers were trained by experts for Glacier grafting. Senior Minister GB, Haji Akbar Taban, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, Mr. Amanullah Khan and other dignitaries from government departments, and University of Baltistan were present at the inauguration.
Kuwardo is a drought hit village in Gilgit-Baltistan where people lack access to clean drinking water as well as water for irrigation. Glacier Grafting will help local community in having access to clean drinking water. The community’s motivation to complete this effectively is remarkable and stems from the successful completion of a similar project by WASEP.
The process involves collection of ice masses from six different locations of Baltistan Division (Kurdunoo, Istak, Rundoo and four of the glaciers of Shigar District). After the inauguration ceremony, six teams of volunteers trained by UoB and AKRSP set out for the target points for Glacier Grafting. The teams will also collect water from different streams (Nallahs) and rivers from these locations with the help of volunteers.
Under the GLOF II Project, a volunteer plantation drive, ‘Adopt a Tree Campaign’ with the collaboration of University of Baltistan, Skardu Hussain Abad campus was also held yesterday. A large number of students participated in the campaign which directly contributes to the Prime Minister’s Clean and Green Pakistan initiative. The campaign was launched in Hunza this year by the Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Mr. Malik Amin Aslam.
Both events were attended by Senior Minister GB, Haji Akbar Taban, Minister Planning and Development GB, Iqbal Hassan, Additional Chief Secretary GB, Syed Abrar Hussain, Registrar University of Baltistan, Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan as well as members of the local community, women, youth and students.
The USD 37 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded “Scaling-up of GLOF risk reduction in Northern Pakistan (GLOF-II)” project is a continuation of the four years “Reducing Risks and Vulnerabilities from GLOF in Northern Pakistan” (GLOF-I)” project funded by Adaptation Fund. GLOF-II builds on the measures piloted by GLOF-I and aims to empower communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of climate change and improve community preparedness and disaster response. As part of the project implementation, the GLOF II Skardu office was also inaugurated by Minister Planning and Development, Gilgit Baltistan, Mr. Iqbal Hassan.
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