36 glacial lakes of Gilgit Baltistan declared dangerous due to CPEC project

Islamabad/Gilgit , Mar 04 (ANI): Thirty-six glacial lakes in various valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan have been declared dangerous. At least seven of them pose a major threat to the people, said a survey by an NGO named Focus Pakistan. Experts attending a seminar in Islamabad said Gilgit-Baltistan is highly vulnerable to climate change. The surge of the Khurdopin Glacier in Shimshal Valley, Hunza, and the formation of a lake, has emerged as a major cause of concern for geologists and local residents. Gilgit-Baltistan has been facing several environmental threats since the launch of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and development-related project. Cutting of jungles, mountains and increase in heavy vehicular movement in the region poses a serious threat to glaciers. Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and is under the occupation of Pakistan since 1947, and ever since then, Pakistan has been misruling th