A drop of hope: Securing water and livelihoods in Northern Pakistan

In the heart of the towering Karakoram Mountain range, at an elevation of nearly 9,000 feet, lies the remote valley of Tholdi — a land as breathtaking as it is unforgiving.

Part of the underserved district of Khaplu in Baltistan, the people of Tholdi face daily struggles shaped by the harsh terrain and unpredictable climate. Here, water is more than just a resource — it is the community’s lifeline.

A Community in Crisis

For generations, the people of Tholdi have relied on glacial melt water for crop irrigation. However, climate change and inefficient irrigation channels have made this water source increasingly unreliable.
 

According to the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO), previously, nearly 50% of the water was lost due to transmission inefficiencies, leaving fields dry and limiting agricultural productivity. The inadequate water supply also prevented the community from utilizing existing land to its full potential.

As a result, declining yields, food insecurity, and limited crop diversification became pressing concerns. Many men were forced to migrate to urban centers in search of work, adding to the social and emotional burdens of an already struggling community.

The Transformative Change

Recognising this urgent need, The Coca-Cola Foundation partnered with MGPO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan to launch the 'Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities’ initiative.

This partnership aims to help ensure sustainable water access for agriculture and daily use, integrating water resource management for food security, ecosystem restoration, and community stewardship to promote sustainable use of water.

With a generous contribution of US$120,000 from The Coca-Cola Foundation — covering more than 80% of the project cost — a robust irrigation system was developed to serve not only Tholdi but also neighboring areas, including Daghoni and Siksa.

A 9,900-foot-long water transmission system now delivers water through 7,700 feet of underground piping and 2,200 feet of open, paved channels, minimising water loss, and significantly improving agricultural productivity.

Sourced from glacial melt, snow, and a perennial spring, the water is stored in a 7,000-gallon covered catchment chamber before being distributed through a gravity-fed irrigation system.

As a result, 238 hectares of land are now irrigated, including 91 hectares that were previously barren, enabling the cultivation of wheat, corn, barley, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Taking a holistic approach to Water Stewardship

While the core objective of the project was sustainable water management, its impact extends far beyond irrigation. The initiative has:

• Empowered 2,100 people with reliable water access for agriculture, helping improve their chances for better livelihoods and household income
• Economically uplifted 1,000 people, by expanding farming opportunities
• Transformed barren land into productive fields, contributing to environmental restoration
• Developed community-led afforestation initiatives, with plans to plant over 20,000 trees across the region. The life-changing water pipeline is ensuring year-round water availability for non-potable domestic use, a critical need during the harsh winter months when other water sources freeze.
  To guarantee long-term sustainability, the project has established and trained community-led Monitoring and Maintenance Committees to manage the infrastructure. A flow meter at the intake points tracks seasonal water availability, enabling adaptive planning.

According to Ms Aisha Khan, CEO of MGPO:

I would say that with this new irrigation, previously barren lands are now producing crops. There has also been tree plantation.

The local community has access to around 800 canals in the valley and every year they say they will plant more trees to increase forest cover and counter climate change. Fruit trees mean more nutrition and money for them.

The ‘Water Security and Building Resilience for Mountain Communities’ project is more than just an infrastructure investment — it is a pivotal step toward empowering communities and building climate resilience.

This project brings hope for a future where water is managed efficiently, crops flourish, and communities stay resilient in the face of climate challenges.