In the Upper Indus basin, communities have been experiencing water shortages for agricultural usage since generations due to uncertainty in glacier behavior. Lowering of glacier surface has disconnected many irrigation canals, which has resulted in the decline of water availability forcing some communities to abandon their agricultural lands. This has caused financial stress and uncertainty among many households in the region, which solely depended on agriculture for the source of their income.

Water scarcity coupled with limited knowledge on technological innovation and lack of structured and coordinated approach for building solutions for various issues faced by communities is causing hindrance in community improvement and development. Therefore, WWF is implementing the “Agriculture, Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood and Building Resilience in Giglit, Pakistan” project with the financial support from ICIMOD, Nepal. 

The project aims to focus on integrated climate smart technology to improve water usage and energy efficiency, particularly through demonstration of solar pump at community level, and water harvesting ponds and micro irrigation systems at farm level. For hazard management, the project is demonstrating early warning system along with soft structural and vegetative measures.  The project will ultimately help in improving livelihood of Upper Indus basin communities through enhanced local capacity, water management and adoption of climate smart technology.