Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin The Rare Gem Among Stones: A Reflection on Professor Hashmat Ali Kamal Elhami’s Verse پہاڑی سلسلے چاروں طرف ہیں، بیچ میں ہم ہیں، مثالِ گوہرِ نایاب، ہم پتھروں میں رہتے ہیں۔ — پروفیسر حشمت علی کمال الہامی This two-line verse by Professor Hashmat Ali Kamal Elhami , one of the most distinguished poets from Gilgit-Baltistan , distills within its simplicity the soul of an entire region — its breathtaking geography, its steadfast people, and its indomitable spirit. Beneath these compact lines lies a profound meditation on identity, endurance, and the quiet nobility of existence amidst adversity. "Mountain ranges surround us on all sides; we dwell in the midst, Like a rare gem, we live among stones." A Landscape of Majesty and Meaning The opening line — “Mountain ranges surround us on all sides; we dwell in the midst” — captures with remarkable precision the geographical essence of Gilgit-Baltistan, a lan...

By  Syed Shamsuddin The case of late Dostan Ali and Shamsher Ali stands as a heart-rending illustration of how bureaucratic apathy and administrative nonchalance can erode the very essence of justice. It is a story of two humble men from the remote border villages of Sust and Morkhun in Upper Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, who devoted the best years of their lives in loyal and uninterrupted service to a government formation — only to be denied their fundamental rights and consigned to a lifetime of uncertainty and deprivation. A Lifetime of Service Without Recognition Late Dostan Ali , now deceased, rendered thirty-seven years of continuous and dedicated service until his passing about three years ago. His colleague, Shamsher Ali , continues in service to this day, having completed twenty-one years without a single day’s break. Both men began their employment in 1986 and 2004 respectively, meeting the then-prevailing recruitment crit...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Deforestation, soaring fuel costs, and unchecked urban sprawl are deepening Gilgit-Baltistan’s heating and environmental crisis — a challenge that now demands national attention. As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the chill starts to creep into the narrow valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, the annual struggle for warmth resumes. From October 15 to March 15 , every household in this mountainous region braces itself for one of the harshest winters in South Asia. Temperatures in certain valleys often plunge far below freezing, and heating becomes not merely a matter of comfort but of survival. Yet, the region’s dependence on fuelwood — its traditional source of heat — continues to erode both the environment and the economic stability of local communities. Traditional Dependence on Fuelwood For generations, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have relied on fuelwood as their primary means of heating and cooking. In every ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin “The fate of the glaciers at the world’s Third Pole will decide the fate of millions downstream.” — ICIMOD Report, 2023 Gilgit-Baltistan — known to scientists as The Third Pole — is the environmental barometer of Pakistan, a region whose towering mountains cradle some of the planet’s largest glacial reserves outside the polar zones. Its rivers nourish the mighty Indus Basin, sustaining life far beyond its valleys. Yet today, this region of sublime beauty and serenity stands at the frontline of climate change, confronting an ecological and energy crisis of historic proportions. A Region in Peril Long, frigid winters are growing even harsher, while glacial melt and erratic weather patterns disturb traditional livelihoods. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan remain heavily dependent on fuelwood extraction for heating and cooking — a practice now accelerating the loss of its already limited forest cover. At the sa...

By  Syed Shamsuddin The anecdotes presented below have been excerpted from Abdul Khaliq Taj’s essay, “Muhammad Anwar Khan – Aik Zinda Dil Insan,” appearing on pages 149 to 156 of the anthology Gilgit-Baltistan ka Urdu Adab . Among the memorable personalities of Gilgit, Anwar Sahib stands out as a man of rare humor, quick wit, and subtle social insight — one who could blend laughter with wisdom in every word. His anecdotes have long transcended the boundaries of ordinary conversation and become part of local lore, quoted fondly by those who knew him and retold with delight by those who only heard of him. A Father and Son — Rustam Meets Sohrab Anwar Sahib’s eldest son, Imtiaz , once served as the Chairman of the Gilgit Municipality (Baldia Gilgit) . On one memorable occasion, a friendly polo match was organized between the Local Government and the Municipality. On the Municipality’s side rode the son — Imtiaz; and on the Local Gov...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Solar Kitchens in Context In many remote and rural communities, energy for cooking remains a challenge. Traditional fuel sources like wood, charcoal, or coal are expensive, polluting, and contribute to deforestation. Meanwhile, sunlight is often freely available. Solar kitchens (or solar cookers / stoves) that use mirrors, parabolic dishes, or reflectors to concentrate solar energy for cooking offer a clean, low-ongoing-cost alternative. These solar kitchens typically include a concentrating reflector (parabolic or dish‐shaped) or mirrored panels that focus sunlight onto a pot. When the sun shines, sufficient heat is generated to cook food or boil water, without burning wood, coal, or other fuels. Are Such Solar Cookers Used in China? Reportedly, several projects in China show real, on-the-ground adoption of solar cookers in under-served rural areas. Some examples: Heqing Solar Cooker Project (Zhangye, Gansu ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Exploiting a Noble Name: Dr. Adeeb Rizvi and the Prolan Controversy In recent times, there has been a growing wave of advertisements circulating across social media and other online platforms promoting Prolan as a miraculous or “ultimate curative” prescription for urological disorders, particularly prostatitis. What makes this campaign especially alarming is the recurring attempt to associate Prolan with the name of Dr. Adeeb-ul-Hassan Rizvi , the world-renowned urologist, humanitarian, and founder of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) . Of late, I came across video clips featuring Shahzeb Khanzada and Hamid Mir —both acclaimed television anchors—appearing to eulogize Dr. Rizvi’s supposed breakthrough in inventing Prolan , portraying it as an elixir and a major medical milestone in curing prostate-related ailments. Such media portrayals, especially when disseminated through widely followed...

By  Syed Shamsuddin GILGIT, the bustling heart of Gilgit-Baltistan, is facing a growing crisis that often goes unnoticed until it directly affects households: pollution in potable water supplies . Recent social media reports and local accounts indicate that many water reservoirs supplying the city are not being routinely tested or monitored. As a result, thousands of families are unknowingly exposed to unsafe drinking water that is fueling the spread of waterborne diseases such as typhoid, diarrhoea, and dysentery . The Sources of Contamination Several factors contribute to this alarming situation: Lack of testing and oversight: The water reservoirs, including those operated by WASA at Danyore, have no regular mechanism for quality testing. Aging and exposed reservoirs: Many supply tanks and channels remain uncovered or poorly maintained, leaving them vulnerable to contamination from runoff, animals, and human activity. E...