Funds sought for Azad Kashmir, Gilgit to meet climate challenges.

MUZAFFARABAD -- Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas has urged Islamabad to provide adequate funds to the governments in Muzaffarabad and Gilgit to help them combat the challenges of climate change.

'...the impact of climate consequences in the territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), which are home to the famed peaks, glaciers and alpine forests, can be devastating for the entire country, which is why these areas need special attention including adequate funds to tackle this threat,' he said in a statement on Friday.

Quoting some researchers, Mr Ilyas maintained thatincrease in average global temperature and extreme and unpredictable weather were occurring more rapidly in the mountainous regions, thusincreasing the vulnerability of all life forms alike.

'Fastmelting glaciers, decreased annual precipitation, shortened snow season and rainfall on snow in early spring,frequent avalanches and landslides necessitate special measures in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan which cannot be taken without adequate funding by the international community through the government of Pakistan,' he said.

He pointed out that the temperature of many AJK towns...