Rapid melting of glaciers a matter of concern: Bilawal
The main bridge connecting Pakistan and China on Saturday got washed away due to the outburst of Shishper glacier.
The outburst in Shishper glacier due to the extreme heat conditions has destroyed the cultivated lands and houses on both sides of the canal. The Karakoram Highway was also severely damaged, and the main bridge connecting Pakistan and China got washed away, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded on both sides of the Karakoram Highway.
The historic bridge of Pak-China corridor which was an important part of connecting Karakoram Highway to Hunza, for which crores of rupees had also been spent for its safekeeping, could not be saved.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Saturday that rapid melting of glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan is a matter of concern.
In his statement on the flood situation in Gilgit, he said that the situation created by the eruption of the lake on the Sheshpar Glacier needs to be dealt with on an urgent basis, to ensure that no harm is done to the local population and the land routes remain open.
Bilawal went on to say that he hopes the administration will ensure that ordinary people, tourists do not face any difficulties. The minister further said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan will not be left alone by the PPP in difficult times.
He said that the rapid melting of glaciers is a matter of concern, adding that the climate change can no longer be hidden in the sand like an ostrich and collective and concerted efforts on the issue of climate change are a necessity. (See also Page 3)