Mushtaq Pahalgami has worked closely with many other environmental and social activists in the region. Mushtaq Pahalgami is founder and president of the internationally Non Governmental Organization-NGO Himalayan Welfare Organization,(HWO), committed to service in the areas of health care, environmental protection and conservation, tourism, education,poverty reduction and alleviation ,human rights, and preservation of the famous Kolahoi Glacier, Lidder and Sind Rivers.Mushtaq Pahalgami also works with trade unions and social organizations like the Pahalgam Collation of Unions, Pahalgam Hotel/Guest House Owners Association , Pahalgam Travel and Tour Operators Union, Pahalgam Tent Union, and Pahalgam Peoples Welfare Organization.He and his team at HWO are known in the region for organizing free medical camps, educational conferences, environment preservation and awareness programmes, seminars and symposiums about the right to Information, public education and health care, drug de-addiction, animal rights, sanitation and hygiene apart from 2014 flood relief operations after the floods in the valley.

Mushtaq Pahalgami has campaigned for environmental conservation in the Himalayan region, particularly in and around Pahalgam, compelling exploitative forest, timber and land interests to retreat from most parts of the region through a long and sustained legal battle and RTI crusade against illegal occupation of forest land and , hunting of wild animals, felling of trees and smuggling of timber.HWO has also organised over hundreds of camps and information campaigns in last 15 years to promote and ensure conservation of the natural ecosystems of the Lidder River and Sind rivers as well as the Kolhoi Glacier and Thajiwas Glacier.