Glacier grafting in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region is providing mountain communities with a localized defense against water scarcity as regional temperatures rise, according to local researchers and cultural organizations. As warming temperatures accelerate glacial melt across the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya mountain ranges, artificial glacier creation offers a vital adaptation method for spring and summer water supplies.
What Is Glacier Grafting and How Does the Traditional Practice Work?
Glacier grafting, known locally as Gang Khswa, is a traditional method in which local communities create new, artificial glaciers in high-altitude regions to secure reliable water for irrigation, livestock, and daily life, according to regional accounts. The technique is often referred to as a glacier marriage, where ice is collected from male and female glaciers and transported to a new site chosen by the community. According to Dr. Zakir Hussain Zakir, Director of Planning and Development at the University of Baltistan, the male glacier is grey and contains debris like soil, sand, and pebbles, while the female glacier is lighter, transparent, clear of impurities, and produces more water.
Porters carry ice pieces in wooden baskets on their backs, traveling by car as far as the terrain allows before continuing on foot. Dr. Zakir explains that an ideal grafting site must sit at an altitude of at least 4,000 metres, feature high permafrost levels, and have maximum wind exposure with minimum sunlight exposure, ideally facing north. Once at the site, workers place male and female ice pieces into a dug well or cave, separated by clay pots holding Indus river water. Layers of sawdust, charcoal, and apricot kernels are packed over the ice for insulation. According to Dr. Zakir, the process takes up to 48 hours, and the ice must be kept continuously moving without touching the ground.
Cultural Traditions and Practical Rules of Glacier Seeding
While the ecological practice dates back centuries and is believed to have originated in the 14th century through the Persian Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, it was revived in the 1990s, according to Nazir Ahmed, CEO of the Baltistan Culture & Development Foundation (BCDF). Ahmed tells Euronews that the craft is deeply intertwined with local traditions, including reciting Quranic verses, singing folk lullabies to the baby glacier, and performing spiritual rituals. Oral history outlines strict myths during transport: carrying ice at night to avoid disrupting territorial spirits, maintaining absolute silence so porters do not become mute, and leaving the buried ice unseen for at least two years. Ahmed notes that these beliefs serve practical purposes, as nighttime transport reduces melting while silence helps porters maintain a steady pace and leaves the buried ice undisturbed.
Did you know? According to the Baltistan Culture & Development Foundation, the historic practice of glacier grafting dates back to the 14th century, when it was reportedly first used by the Persian Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani as a defense tactic against invaders.
Funding Expansion and Youth Involvement in Baltistan
The BCDF works to preserve regional heritage and protect the environment, receiving funding in 2025 from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which allowed the organization to expand operations. Ahmed notes that prior to this funding, the foundation could only transport up to 200 kilograms of ice at a time, but it now moves more than 1,000 kilograms at once. Through the FCDO project, the foundation successfully grafted ten glaciers across different Baltistan villages, constructed six ice towers, and established a botanical garden at the University of Baltistan. Efforts are underway to gain UNESCO recognition for glacier grafting as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Community participation remains central to the practice. According to Dr. Zakir, locals consume snowmelt water for their entire lives, making community contribution a moral responsibility rooted in ancient Bonism beliefs where water is viewed as a sentient life giver. However, youth engagement faces hurdles as young people leave for education and employment. Zeeshan Abbas, team leader at the youth-led initiative Siachen Sherpa, points out that while youth recognize the impacts of climate change, many lack resources, opportunities, or institutional support. Abbas emphasizes that his generation bridges traditional community knowledge with modern science, satellite data, and digital tools.
Climate Vulnerability in Pakistan’s Third Pole
Pakistan’s Third Pole glaciers irrigate 90 percent of agricultural land and sustain more than 220 million people, according to the World Economic Forum. The Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya mountain range contains the largest volume of frozen freshwater outside the polar regions. However, human-caused global warming places unprecedented pressure on these ecosystems. According to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) statement, rising temperatures have created 3,044 glacial lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 33 classified as hazardous due to the threat of glacial lake outburst floods.
Despite contributing less than 1 percent of global emissions annually, Pakistan remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In contrast, a 2025 study revealed that the world’s wealthiest 10 percent are responsible for two-thirds of global warming since 1990, underscoring the stark disparities in climate impacts and emissions contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glacier grafting?
Glacier grafting is a traditional method used in high-altitude regions like Gilgit-Baltistan to create artificial glaciers. Communities transport ice from male and female glaciers to a new site to establish a reliable long-term water source for irrigation and daily use.
How long does it take for an artificial glacier to produce water?
According to local experts, once an artificial glacier is planted and exposed to several snow cycles, it begins to root and produce water after approximately ten years, growing into a reliable water source after another decade.
Who funds glacier grafting projects in Pakistan?
The Baltistan Culture & Development Foundation undertakes glacier grafting projects, supported by funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which enables the transport of over 1,000 kilograms of ice per project.
Why are glaciers melting faster in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges?
According to the UNDP and climate experts, rising global temperatures driven by human-caused climate change are accelerating glacial melt, increasing the risk of hazardous glacial lake outburst floods across the region.
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