SKARDU, Pakistan — A surge in mountain tourism, driven by climbers and Pakistanis looking to escape heat waves, is rapidly depleting the limited energy supply at the gateway to ascend K2, the world’s second-highest peak.
While higher-end hotels can supplement their supply with solar panels or fuel generators, many locals cannot afford such luxuries.
This aerial photograph taken on May 8, 2024 shows a general view of the Sadpara Dam with scarce water near Skardu in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. In Aniqa Bano’s house in the mountainous valleys of Pakistan, 18-hour daily power cuts have transformed her fridge into a cupboard for books and kitchen utensils….
