Indigenous ice stupas in northern Pakistan provide a natural water storage method

In the heart of Pakistan's picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan region, a unique solution to water scarcity is taking shape. The ice stupas, a traditional practice originating from Ladakh, have found a new home in Hussainabad village, providing much-needed water during the sowing season.

The first ice stupa in Gilgit-Baltistan was built in 2019 in the village of Paari. Since then, the villagers of Hussainabad, under the leadership of Mohammad Raza, have followed suit. In 2022, an ice stupa was successfully constructed in their village.

The ice stupa, unlike its tall counterpart in Ladakh, is built on a natural slope. Water, sourced from a nearby stream, is channeled through a system of rubber pipes, a nozzle, connectors, and a sturdy base. As the water flows downhill, it is sprayed upward due to the pressure created, forming the conical structure of the ice stupa.

The construction of an ice stupa takes approximately three days, and maintenance is required after its completion. Despite this, the effort has proven worthwhile for the farmers of Hussainabad. With the ice stupas, they are now able to grow a wider variety of crops and, in some cases, a second crop in a season.

However, the ice stupas are not considered a long-term solution by experts. Over 3,000 glacial lakes have developed in Gilgit-Baltistan, posing a potential threat for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Furthermore, Pakistan has over 7,000 glaciers in its Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayan region, and 41% of Pakistan's river flows come from glacier melt.

The arrival of the ice stupas has also brought a new source of income to the region, with Skardu serving as the main gateway for expeditions to K2 and Nanga Parbat. However, tourism also brings issues of increasing water demand, a concern that is particularly acute during Gilgit-Baltistan's serious dry spell from April-May, when communities are left with limited water for essential uses.

In an effort to support glacier grafting as a long-term solution, the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan project coordinator for HWWF-Pakistan has endorsed the practice. This indigenous method, which involves the artificial formation of snow and ice, could potentially help mitigate the effects of climate change on the region's water supply.

The UNDP team has aided the Hussainabad team in obtaining the right-sized pipes for the ice stupa, a crucial part of the infrastructure required for this innovative water conservation method. As the ice stupas continue to provide relief to farmers and communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, it is hoped that this practice will become a beacon of hope in the face of water scarcity.

Indigenous ice stupas in northern Pakistan provide a natural water storage method