Pakistan possesses one of the largest concentrations of glaciers outside the polar regions, with over 7,000 glaciers spanning its mountainous northern areas. These glaciers are a critical component of the country’s water security, feeding the Indus River system that sustains agriculture, livelihoods, and urban water supply across Pakistan. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is home to approximately 3,050 glaciers, particularly in districts such as Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kaghan, and Naran.

The glaciers play a vital role in maintaining local ecosystems and regulating regional climate patterns. However, they also face mounting threats from climate change, rising global temperatures, and illegal commercial extraction of glacial ice, which exacerbates glacier melt and contributes to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), biodiversity loss, and freshwater depletion.

In July 2024, Transparency International Pakistan’s Legal Advice Centre took up a complaint with the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting alarming reports of illegal glacier cutting and transportation of glacial ice for commercial sale. TI Pakistan highlighted that illegal activities were in contravention to The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change Policy 2022, and The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act, 2014.

The complaint underscored the ecological and hydrological importance of the glaciers, the absence of legal framework around the protection of glaciers, one that ensures strict enforcement of glaciers protection and penalities for violators, as well as the urgency of legal and administrative action. TI Pakistan recommended the need to adopt international best practices such as Tajikistan’s 2024 Glacier Protection Law.

The issue gained further momentum after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), demanding legislative and administrative action to ban illegal glacial cutting and ensure the long-term preservation of glaciers. This marked a significant development in environmental advocacy, demonstrating the power of civic action in shaping judicial and policy responses.

On May 6, 2025, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) took a critical step in protecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s glaciers by issuing an interim order banning all forms of commercial exploitation and extraction of glacial ice in the province. This decision followed growing concerns about the environmental damage caused by the illegal harvesting of glacial ice, particularly in northern KP’s glacier-rich areas like Dir, Chitral, and Swat. The Court recognized the glaciers’ essential role in regulating the region’s water resources, biodiversity, and climate stability, and warned of the broader risks posed by their destruction, including accelerated climate change and global warming.

A contempt petition was filed by Advocate Tariq Afghan, which alleged that the ban had been violated in Dir Upper, where illegal glacier exploitation activities were reportedly continuing. In response, the PHC bench on 27th May 2025, reinforced its earlier order with a stern warning that violators would face legal consequences under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The move has emphasized commitment to enforcing environmental protection laws and ensuring the preservation of the province’s glaciers.

This ruling is the direct result of sustained advocacy, civic engagement, citizen oversight. It showcases how institutional mechanisms and citizen voices can converge to defend the environment and promote sustainable governance.