Ice-cream uncle brings sweet relief to children amid rising temperature in Peshawar
PESHAWAR (APP): As the morning sun casts its golden rays across Peshawar, 35-year-old Malyar Khan starts the engine of his ice-cream vehicle and sets out for another busy day hoping to earn maximum profit amid rising temperature.
With temperatures soaring across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demand for cold treats increasing manifold, he hopes to make the most of the summer season in the bustling markets and residential streets of the provincial capital.
Known affectionately among children as the ice-cream uncle, Malyar wearing red shirt has become a familiar figure in the posh locality of Hayatabad.
The distinctive siren of his brightly decorated vehicle often sparks excitement, drawing children to their gates and doorsteps as he passes through the neighbourhood from dawn to dusk.
Behind his cheerful smile, however, lies a story of sacrifice, resilience and determination. “I started this painstaking work after losing my parents at a young age,” Malyar told APP. “A large amount of money had been borrowed for their medical treatment, and I felt responsible for paying it back.”
His father, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer, had dreamed of seeing his son become a doctor. But tragedy changed the course of Malyar’s life.
“My father wanted me to complete my education and pursue medicine as a career,” he recalled. “After his untimely death, I had to leave my studies unfinished and enter this demanding business to support my family.”
What began as a necessity gradually became a source of livelihood and purpose. Day after day, Malyar navigates the streets of Peshawar, enduring intense heat while bringing moments of happiness to children during the sweltering summer months.
“Many children stay indoors because of the extreme weather,” he said. “I take ice cream directly to their doorsteps so they can enjoy a cool treat without having to venture out in the heat.”
According to Malyar, milk-based ice creams in different flavours, especially mango and pista, are currently the most popular among children.
Years of hard work have paid off for the determined vendor of Peshawar. The business enabled him not only to clear all outstanding family debts but also to support the education of his younger brothers.
Today, while he may not have fulfilled his father’s dream of becoming a doctor, he has fulfilled another equally important responsibility standing by his family during difficult times and helping secure a brighter future for his siblings.
Malyar’s story unfolds against the backdrop of rising temperatures across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the demand for ice creams, juices and other cold refreshments has surged due to recurring heatwaves linked to climate change and global warming.
Environmental experts warned that the same rising temperatures boosting seasonal businesses are also accelerating the melting of glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountains, threatening the country’s long-term water security.
“Glaciers are a vital source of water for millions of people for drinking, irrigation and agriculture,” said Niaz Ali Khan, former Chief Conservator of Forests, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Their melting can be significantly reduced through large-scale afforestation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improved economic conditions for mountain communities.”
He said glaciers in the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges are melting at an alarming pace due to climate change-induced weather patterns, rising temperatures and deforestation in KP.
Citing international studies, Niaz Ali warned that up to 80 percent of glacier volume in the region could disappear by the end of this century if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced.
“Pakistan possesses more glaciers than any country outside the polar regions,” he said. “These glaciers feed the Indus River system and provide freshwater to millions of people from the mountains of the north to the plains of Sindh.”
He reiterated that the continued retreat of glaciers could increase the risk of flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), droughts and severe water shortages in the years ahead.
According to the National Water Policy, Pakistan’s per capita water availability has declined dramatically from 5,260 cubic metres in 1951 to nearly 1,000 cubic metres, pushing the country toward water scarcity.
Experts stressed that afforestation remains one of the most effective and affordable measures to combat climate change. Increased forest cover can help moderate temperatures, enhance rainfall patterns and slow glacier melt.
Niaz Ali emphasized the need for large-scale tree plantation campaigns, protection of existing forests and timely completion of major water reservoirs, including Mohmand and Diamer-Bhasha dams, to safeguard Pakistan’s future water resources.
Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The devastating floods of 2022, which caused economic losses exceeding billions of dollars, underscored the scale of the challenge.
For Malyar Khan, however, climate change is not discussed in scientific reports or policy documents. It is felt every day under the scorching sun as he drives through the streets of Peshawar serving ice cream to children seeking relief from the heat.
As temperatures continue to climb and children gather around his vehicle for a refreshing treat, Malyar’s daily journey reflects both the opportunities and hardships created by a warming climate.
His perseverance and belief in own abilities in the face of personal tragedy remains a testament to the resilience of ordinary Pakistanis striving to build better lives despite challenges.
