Today is International Mountain Day.

Today (Thursday), Pakistan is part of the global celebration of International Mountain Day, which aims to increase awareness of the need to improve the state of mountains and the lives of those who live close to them.

“Glaciers matter for water, food, and livelihoods in mountains and beyond” is this year’s International Mountain Day theme.

The significance of glacier protection for agriculture, water security, and the lives of vulnerable mountain communities might be emphasized on International Mountain Day in 2025.

Large reservoirs of snow and ice that may be found all over the world, glaciers are much more than just frozen landscapes; they are essential to societies and ecosystems. However, these vital elements of Earth’s systems are changing quickly and alarmingly, with far-reaching effects on all of us.

Every year on December 11, International Mountain Day is observed to raise awareness of the value of mountains to life, to draw attention to the opportunities and challenges associated with mountain development, and to form partnerships that will improve mountain environments and mountain peoples worldwide. Nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are found in mountains, which are home to 15% of the world’s population.

Overexploitation and climate change are also posing a threat to mountains; as the climate warms, mountain glaciers melt, potentially affecting freshwater supplies downstream.

Pakistan is home to eight of the world’s sixteen highest mountain summits. The nation is home to five 26-thousand-foot snow-capped summits, including K-2, the second-highest peak in the world, and Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest peak in the world.