Pakistan to Receive $250 Million in Climate Funds to Protect Glacier-Fed Farms
- ADB-led program targets water security, agriculture, and livelihoods in climate-vulnerable regions
Pakistan will benefit from $250 million in new climate financing approved by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under the “Glaciers to Farms” adaptation program, a regional initiative led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to protect water and agricultural systems in glacier-dependent regions.
The GCF financing, provided mostly as grants, will be paired with $3.25 billion in ADB investments over the next decade to strengthen climate resilience across Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan. The program will focus on four glacier-fed river basins, including Pakistan’s Swat River Basin, covering nearly 27 million hectares of farmland.
According to ADB, rapid glacial melt is threatening the region’s water supplies, agricultural production, and hydropower potential. With one in four jobs in these countries tied to agriculture, the program aims to protect livelihoods and ensure long-term food security.
An estimated 13 million people, including farmers and vulnerable mountain communities, are expected to benefit directly from the initiative. Planned investments include advanced monitoring and early warning systems to respond to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and droughts, as well as adaptive social protection and better access to finance for small and women-led agribusinesses.
“This is a transformative investment that will help safeguard water security and food production for millions, while enabling communities to adapt to a rapidly changing climate,” said Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB’s Director for Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture in Central and West Asia.
GCF officials described the initiative as a long-term solution for climate resilience and ecosystem protection across the region’s fragile mountain landscapes.
The Glaciers to Farms program marks one of the largest coordinated efforts to address the mounting risks of glacial melt, positioning Pakistan and its neighbors at the forefront of climate adaptation in Asia’s high-altitude regions.
