By Syed Shamsuddin “Concrete heats everything, trees cool the world gently and naturally. Less asphalt and concrete means cooler places, cleaner air and healthier people.” Though simple, this statement captures one of the most urgent ecological truths of our time—one that carries special importance for Gilgit–Baltistan (GB), a region where rising temperatures, growing concrete constructions, and increasing pressures on natural forests are converging to create profound risks. GB is one of the world’s most climate-sensitive mountain ecosystems. Its high-altitude deserts, fragile slopes, and immense glacial reservoirs—holding the ice that feeds Pakistan’s rivers—make it a region where even a single degree of warming has outsized consequences. Yet over recent years, the rapid expansion of cement-based urbanization, coupled with growing dependence on firewood for heating and cooking, has started to create micro “heat pockets” in valleys ...
By Syed Shamsuddin HEARING of the death of Yaqoob Khan, fondly known as “Jani,” has brought a deep and lingering sorrow to all who knew him. Jani was that rare soul who devoted his entire life to spreading smiles—lighting up faces with his wit, warmth, and boundless good cheer. His passing has undoubtedly cast a pall of sadness over the entire region. May Allah Almighty grant Yaqoob Khan His infinite mercy and forgiveness. Ameen. Often described as the emperor of laughter, Jani was more than just a humorist; he was a beloved public figure whose personality cut across every boundary of caste, color, and creed. His fame as a comedian and entertainer was not of the ordinary kind—it was rooted in sincerity, simplicity, and an unwavering desire to inject joy into the lives of others. A couple of years ago, Dildar Ali Qamar beautifully captured these very traits in his inspiring Facebook reflection, which this writer later highlighted in ...