Indus Basin Initiative

Experts from riparian countries discuss regional cooperation and strategic direction for the Upper Indus Basin Network

The transboundary Indus River basin serves as an important source of water for human consumption, agriculture, energy production, and industrial use for about 268 million people in the region. Rapidly changing demographics and climatic conditions are placing great stress on this resource and are likely to affect upstream and downstream populations, especially in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). The Upper Indus Basin Network (UIBN) was accordingly formed in 2012 to foster higher coordination among institutions and researchers working on climate, cryosphere, water, hazards, vulnerability, and adaption in the UIB. As a knowledge and research network, the UIBN is committed to effectively dealing with climate change effects on water resources and strengthening upstream–downstream linkages.

Understanding of glaciers’ health calls for precise estimations of ice losses into water equivalent

Glaciers in the upper Indus supply more than half of the river water and are experiencing significant melting. There is much discussion on the recent melting rate, which involves considerable uncertainties. A recent study reported one of these uncertainties to be caused by density assumptions for volume-to-mass change conversion, hindering estimations of precise glacier mass change.

Third UIBN–AC Meeting discusses data gaps in Upper Indus basin research

As an informal knowledge and research network of national and international researchers working in the upper part of the Indus basin, the Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N) continually aims to coordinate research on climate, cryosphere, water, hazards and vulnerability, and adaptation-related issues.

UIBN – India Chapter discusses data gaps and collaborative research

The definitive 2018 report No Water, No Growth by Hong-Kong based non-profit China Water Risk shows the critical dependence of communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) on the region’s limited water sources. It suggests that the governments in the region chart a roadmap towards growth that requires less water and generates less pollution. This vision of growth, however, is impeded by a plethora of threats to the environment and communities in the HKH, such as rising temperatures, declining cryospheric resources, and unpredictable rainfall to increasing water stress in the upper regions of the HKH.

2nd Regional Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N) Workshop

Glaciers in the upper reaches of the Indus River basin are an important source of freshwater. However, as climate change in the region affects water flows, sectoral development will also be influenced.

Governance Structure for Pakistan Chapter of Upper Indus Basin Network Recommended

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organized a meeting of the Pakistan Chapter (PC) of the Upper Indus Basin Network (UIBN) on 29 November 2018 at the National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss and decide on a governance structure of UIBN-PC. Khalid Mohtadullah, Chairperson of the UIBN, chaired the meeting, which was attended by over 30 participants.

Best Practices to Counter Climate Change Shared in Gilgit-Baltistan

A policy roundtable, Building Climate Resiliency in Gilgit-Baltistan, held at the Karakorum International University on 26 June 2018, emphasized the effectiveness of innovations in water use and management systems. Community-based flood early warning systems (CBFEWS), bioengineering, high value agricultural systems, and use of renewable energy systems and income generating activities were discussed during the event.

Managing Systems Under Stress: Solutions Presented at Third Indus Basin Knowledge Forum

The third Indus Basin Knowledge Forum (IBKF) facilitated interaction and potential collaboration between researchers and funders of water-related work in the Indus basin. It revisited progress made on the 10-point action plan for strengthening knowledge on the Indus basin endorsed at the Second IBKF in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2017.

Cross learning within the HKH: women restore barren land in Passu Valley with sea buckthorn

Fifty women from Passu valley in Pakistan have been tending to a community sea buckthorn plantation along what used to be an eroded riverbank, an hour’s walk from their village. The bushes were planted in April 2017 and will take another three years to fruit, but in less than a year, the barren patch of unstable land has become a stable, green oasis.

The time is right to apply research findings in the Upper Indus Basin Network and expand into all four riparian countries

During the workshop, UIB-N members revised the network’s core principles to make them more suitable across the transboundary landscape. This resulted in modifications to Technical Working Group guidelines, as well as to the network’s objectives, vision, mission, and governance structure. Participants decided that the UIB-N Strategic Committee would include representatives from all four countries. An ad hoc regional strategic committee formed during the workshop was tasked with proposing the network’s governance framework within a six month interim period.

Greening Barren Land: Facilitating Irrigation and Agricultural Activity in Upper Hunza, Pakistan

A new World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) project is set to pilot water-lifting technologies appropriate for the irrigation of barren lands in Upper Hunza, Pakistan . The project will enable and facilitate the process of pumping water from the Indus River to surrounding areas, enabling farmers to use the water for agricultural purposes.

Pakistan Government Credits CBFEWS for Zero Loss of Human and Animal Lives in Sherqilla Floods

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has acknowledged the efficiency of the system in Gilgit-Baltistan, and attributed it to having safeguarded this vulnerable community constantly battling the elements in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Communities appreciate and have taken ownership of the CBFEWS, saying the system puts them at more ease with nature. In comparison, a similar flood in 2016 swept away six livestock and six households, and destroyed 250 acres of cropland and some 600 fruit and wild trees.

Collaboration Strengthens Climate Resiliency of Upper Gojal Gilgit Mountain Villages in The Upper Indus Basin

As climate change impacts are increasing the likelihood of natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, having a thorough disaster risk management plan is become more important for communities throughout the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).

Pakistani Officials Support Early Flood Warning System Implementation in Gilgit Baltistan

A hazard is an agent that harms or damages life, health, property, or the environment. It can be either natural or attributable to an anthropogenic activity that results in imbalances in ecological cycles and ecosystems as a whole.

Gender and Social Entrepreneurship Workshop in Pakistan

ICIMOD, in collaboration with the Hashoo Foundation (HF) and Seplaa Enterprises (SE), organized a workshop on gender and social entrepreneurship on 10 August 2017 in Pakistan. The one-day workshop sought to explore collaborative means of addressing water,

Tripartite Consultation on Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Plan

A tripartite meeting to appraise the existing Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Risk Managemnt Plan (DRMP) was held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 10 August 2017. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) took part in the process at the invitation of the Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GB-DMA),

Upper Indus Basin Network and Indus Forum Collaboration Meeting

The Upper Indus Basin Network and Indus Forum Collaboration Meeting was held at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 22 to 25 May 2017. A majority of the workshop participants were from Afghanistan, China, India and Pakistan, which share the waters of the transboundary Indus River Basin.

Regional Training on Hydrological Modelling in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The current and future impact of climate change on water availability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya is a great concern, and is important to understand for better planning of water resources. Hydrological models provide insight into different parts of the hydrological cycle which can help planners and policy makers take informed decisions for the planning and management of water resources.

New Ideas, New Strategies for the Indus Basin

The Indus Basin Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has taken a step towards enhancing partnership in Pakistan. ‘SDIP Phase-2 for Indus Basin’ was a workshop organized jointly by ICIMOD with the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-Gilgit Baltistan) on 2 March 2017 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

ICIMOD Scientists Share Glacier Knowledge in Switzerland

Several scientists from ICIMOD recently traveled to Switzerland for a knowledge exchange study tour for climate change and glacier monitoring. The meeting, which moved between Zurich and Zermatt in October 2016, offered an opportunity for hydrologists, glaciologists, and cryosphere experts from the Alps and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) to share their ideas and experience.

New Publication: Climate Change Impacts on Upper Indus Basin Hydrology

The Indus is one of the most meltwater-dependent rivers on earth. It hosts a large, rapidly growing population, and the world’s largest irrigation scheme. Understanding the hydrology of the upper Indus basin is challenging. The Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges are difficult to access, making field measurements of the meteorological, glaciological and hydrological processes difficult.

Exchanging Knowledge on Glaciers and Climate at the Indus Forum

The Indus Forum, a World Bank funded project, is working to identify specific research and data gaps by mapping existing knowledge related to climate change in the Indus basin, and by supporting evidence based development in communities across the basin.

Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network Strategic Committee Meeting

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Strategic Committee Meeting of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network was held 17 October 2016, Islamabad, Pakistan to discuss the actions points of August 5 2016 meeting; integration mechanism, joint funding proposal development, expanding UIB Network and mechanism to enhance UIB Network awareness.

Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network Panelists Highlighted the Importance of Meaningful Collaborative Research in UIB

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank and Water and Environment Forum (WEF), organised a three days national conference on 'Water and Environment: Sustainable Development in Changing Climate' 17-19 October 2016.

Pakistani Policy Makers Visit Upper Indus Basin Pilot Projects

A field visit to enhance understanding of ongoing International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) activities in Pakistan through exposure of policy makers was made to pilot projects in Upper Indus Basin (UIB), Gilgit Baltistan 20-22 September 2016.

Discussing Strategy for SDIP Phase-II in Upper Indus Basin

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organised a consultation meeting 4 August 2016 in Islamabad to develop logical action and partnership plans and achieve the established goals for the Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP) phase-II in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), a project supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Government of Australia.

Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network Moots in Islamabad

The Technical Working Group (WG) and Strategic Committee Meetings of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Network met 5 August 2016 at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan. The meeting was organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to review progress of six technical working groups, discuss funding proposals, TORs of WG-leads, the expansion of the UIB Network, and inclusion of new working group with a way forward.

Solar Water Pumping from Hunza River Enhances Local Livelihoods

A solar pumping system to irrigate the newly developed orchards along the Hunza River using drip irrigation in Upper Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the first attempt to pilot solar water pumping and micro-irrigation in the arid region under project ‘Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’.

Pilot Projects Achieve Targets in Upper Indus Basin

A review and planning meeting was held in Islamabad on 7 June, 2016 on two projects underway in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), 'Community-Based Glacier Monitoring and Early Warning System' through Focus Humanitarian Assistance’ and 'Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’.

Building Expertise in CBFEWS

ICIMOD, in collaboration with Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority and Focus Humanitarian Assistance, is planning to pilot Community Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) in Gilgit Baltistan under the project ‘Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’.

Indus Basin Conference Builds Understanding of Current Research

Eighty-plus policy maker and journalist participants from Afghanistan China, India and Pakistan, were present as Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Hafeez-ur-Rahman opened the International Conference on Climate and Environmental Change Impacts on the Indus Basin Waters 16 February 2016 at ICIMOD.

Partnering for Better Livelihoods in Upper Indus

ICIMOD is facilitating the strategic partnership between PCRWR and WWF for a wider conversation cum development of water resources in Pakistan.

Regional Training on ‘Glacio-hydrological Modelling Using the SPHY Model’

A training course on ‘Glacio-hydrological modelling using the SPHY model’ was organized from 14–18 December 2015 by ICIMOD under the Indus Basin Initiative. The training was a follow-up to the first training course in 2014 and included newly developed interface components.

Upper Indus Basin Experts’ Field Visit

The objectives of the field visit were to strengthen collaboration between various actors working in the Upper Indus Basin; develop a better understanding of the impact of climate change on the environment in Gilgit Baltistan; and explore options to minimize the adverse impacts of climate and other changes in the basin.

Workshop on Tools for Developing Water Availability and Demand Scenarios

Roundtable on Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources of the Upper Indus Basin on 25 January 2013

Upper Indus Basin (UIB) Monitoring Working Group