William, Kate visit melting glacier in Pakistan's Hindu Kush mountain range

Peshawar: Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton on Wednesday visited a melting glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range to witness the first-hand impact of the climate change, which they are seeking to highlight in their trip to Pakistan.

On the third day of their visit to the country, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew by helicopter to the northern tip of the Chiatibo glacier, where a climate change expert explained how it was retreating, the Express Tribune reported.

Chiatibo is one of the around 7,000 glaciers in Pakistan that meteorologists say are showing signs of melting, citing data gathered over the last 50 years. The South Asian nation has a total of 7,200 glaciers.

Willian and Kate are on a five-day visit to Pakistan, described as the "most complex" trip undertaken by the couple till date.

Earlier, the Royal couple, both aged 37, stopped at an airport in the scenic valley of Chitral in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where they were gifted Pakol caps, a traditional feathered mountain hat, similar to the one gifted to William's mother Princess Diana during her visit to the area in 1991. They were also gifted a book of photos commemorating the trip of Princess Diana to the valley. "Fantastic," the prince remarked as he sifted through the pages of the book.

William was also given a white embroidered coat while Kate was given a warm shawl.

The royal couple's visit to Chitral and its surrounding Hindu Kush mountain range is part of their agenda to address climate change in the country, the report said.

The couple also visited Bumburet village in Chitral region that was devastated in the 2015 flood and met with the survivors of the disaster.

They also enjoyed performances of traditional dances and music by the local people.

William and Kate arrived in Pakistan on Monday night on their maiden visit. On Tuesday, they met Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi and also visited a girl's college in the capital and then Margalla Hills, where they attended an event regarding environmental protection. In the evening, they attended a glitzy reception, hosted by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew, at the National Monument where William, in his first official address, paid tribute to all the people who "endured sacrifice and helped build Pakistan to the country it is today". Pti