**Progressive Climate Foundation Holds Inaugural Youth Climate Summit in Gilgit-Baltistan**
The Progressive Climate Foundation (PCF), in partnership with several national and international organizations, has successfully hosted the first-ever Climate Youth Summit in Gilgit-Baltistan, signaling a significant step forward in youth engagement for climate action and glacier preservation in the region.
The summit, themed “Youth, Glaciers, and the Future: Building Climate Resilience in the Mountains,” convened a diverse group of youth leaders, environmental experts, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives. The event aimed to facilitate critical discussions on glacier protection, climate resilience, and the empowerment of young people, particularly within Gilgit-Baltistan—a region that holds a substantial portion of Pakistan’s glaciers.
Held at the historic Old Assembly Hall, Chinar Bagh in Gilgit, the summit opened with a recitation from the Holy Quran and the national anthem, setting a solemn and unifying tone. Mr. Ahbab Ullah, President of PCF GB, welcomed participants and outlined the foundation’s mission and its growing impact across Gilgit-Baltistan.
Highlighting the region’s environmental significance, keynote speaker Mr. Khadim Hussain, Director of the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Agency, emphasized that Pakistan is home to 13,000 glaciers, with an estimated 8,400 located in Gilgit-Baltistan. He stressed the urgency of equipping local youth with indigenous knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard these vital resources.
The summit’s agenda featured two dynamic panel discussions. The first focused on youth-led climate action and entrepreneurship, while the second addressed the challenges of glacial melt and water security in Pakistan. Both panels underscored the role of innovative, youth-driven initiatives in responding to the climate crisis.
Mr. Tawseef Khan, Founder and CEO of PCF, reiterated the importance of mobilizing the next generation, stating that youth-led solutions are critical to addressing climate challenges and building sustainable partnerships with key stakeholders.
Representatives from partner organizations, including Arif Hussain (EvK2CNR), Asghar Khan, General Manager of Serena Hotels, Imran Khan Rana of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and Manzoor Qureshi of the Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Programme, reaffirmed their commitment to fostering climate resilience and supporting youth involvement across the region.
The summit’s chief guest, Ms. Suraiya Zaman, Gilgit-Baltistan’s Minister for Information Technology, acknowledged the gravity of climate change and the limitations of available resources. She emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to address these challenges and encouraged young participants to take proactive steps, such as tree planting, to promote a greener and safer environment for the future.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Safia Kulsum, Vice President of PCF GB, followed by the distribution of souvenirs and a networking session. This provided participants with an opportunity to build lasting partnerships and reflect on the summit’s outcomes, reinforcing a shared commitment to climate resilience in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan.
