Ice Stupas in Gilgit-Baltistan: How Pakistan’s Artificial Glaciers Are Tackling Water Scarcity

In the far north of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan’s towering mountains cradle remote valleys that have relied for centuries on a fragile lifeline — glacial meltwater. These natural glaciers have always been the primary source of water for farming, livestock, and daily use. But with climate change disrupting snowfall patterns, that lifeline is under serious threat.

Climate Change and the Water Crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan

Winters in Gilgit-Baltistan are now warmer, and snowfall — crucial for replenishing the region’s water supply — is increasingly unpredictable. At the same time, population growth and booming tourism have driven the expansion of farmland, intensifying the demand for irrigation. The result is a seasonal “dry gap” in April and May, when water is scarce but agricultural activity is at its peak.

Faced with this challenge, local communities are turning to an innovative water storage solution — ice stupas, also known as artificial glaciers.

What Are Ice Stupas and How Do They Work?

The ice stupa concept was pioneered in 2013 by Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, India. The technique involves piping water from mountain streams and spraying it into the freezing winter air, where it forms a towering cone of ice. Each stupa can hold thousands of litres of water, stored naturally until the spring thaw releases it for irrigation.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the first artificial glacier was built in 2019 in Paari village, thanks to a partnership between Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Water is sprayed downhill to form this ice stupa in Gilgit-Baltistan. The required infrastructure is minimal and readily available, with just rubber pipes, a nozzle, connectors, and a base of tall bushes, a tree or bamboo pole to support the nozzle, notes Mohammad Raza (Image: UNDP)

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Unique Approach to Ice Stupas

Unlike Ladakh, where ice stupas are built on flat terrain, the Gilgit-Baltistan ice stupas are often constructed on natural slopes. This design takes advantage of gravity to keep the water flowing through the pipes without freezing too early.

The process:

Water is tapped from an upstream source at a higher elevation.
Gravity builds pressure inside the pipes.
A nozzle sprays the water upward, where it freezes in layers overnight.
In April and May, the ice melts gradually, providing a steady irrigation supply during the dry season.

The required infrastructure is minimal — rubber pipes, connectors, a sturdy base such as a poplar tree or bamboo pole, and freezing night temperatures.

The Impact on Farming Communities

For farmers like Zahra Bano from Hussainabad, this innovation has been life-changing. Before 2022, her family struggled with water shortages during sowing season. Now, the Hussainabad ice stupa ensures water availability, allowing her to cultivate wheat, barley, maize, fruits, and vegetables, and sustain livestock year-round.

Farmers report:

The ability to grow two crops per season instead of one.
More crop diversity and food security.
Reduced dependency on buying supplies from outside markets.

The Limitations of Ice Stupas

While effective, experts warn that ice stupas are not a permanent solution to water scarcity in Gilgit-Baltistan. Hamid Mir of WWF-Pakistan likens them to “freezer ice” — helpful in the short term but unable to replace the massive storage capacity of natural glaciers.

Pakistan’s Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayan region holds more than 7,000 glaciers, but many are shrinking due to rising temperatures. Over 3,000 glacial lakes have already formed in Gilgit-Baltistan, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Long-Term Solutions Beyond Ice Stupas

Water experts recommend combining ice stupas with other climate change adaptation strategies:

Glacier grafting to grow new natural glaciers.
Improved irrigation systems to reduce water waste.
Snow harvesting and small mountain reservoirs.
Watershed conservation to protect natural springs.

As Amjad Masood, a water resources specialist, explains: “Ice stupas should complement — not replace — long-term water management strategies.”

A Growing Community-Led Movement

Since 2019, ice stupas have spread from one village to over 20 villages in Gilgit-Baltistan. Construction takes about three days, but upkeep lasts for months, with local committees inspecting and repairing them through spring. This shared responsibility fosters community ownership and resilience.

For now, these shimmering artificial glaciers stand as symbols of innovation and survival — proof that even in the face of climate change, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are finding ingenious ways to protect their future.