Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin A History of Bon Philosophy by Ghulam Hassan Lobsang is an extensive compendium on the Bon religion that delves into its origins, evolution, and far-reaching influence across Tibet, Ladakh, and Baltistan. Authored by Ghulam Hassan Lobsang and first published approximately two and a half decades ago, this book stands as a remarkable contribution to the study of Bon. It has garnered significant interest from scholars, historians, and enthusiasts alike, both within the region and on a global scale. The author's dissertation brings forth new perspectives on previously uncharted aspects of Bon philosophy—areas that remained elusive despite the rigorous research efforts of Bon Po scholars in Tibet over the years. Lobsang's accomplishment is particularly noteworthy given the financial hurdles he encountered in the course of his research. His success in compiling such a meticulous and analytically rigorous study in a re...

By  Syed Shamsuddin From Crystal Clarity to Public Health Catastrophe: Gilgit-Baltistan’s Silent Water Emergency Inspired by the write-up of Iqbal Bijar Gilgit-Baltistan, famed for its snow-clad peaks, ancient glaciers, and crystal-clear streams, has long been perceived as a land where nature itself guarantees purity and health. For generations, the glass-like clarity of its water fostered an unquestioned belief that what looks clean must be safe. As forcefully highlighted in Iqbal Bijar’s original write-up, this belief has now proven to be a dangerous illusion. Beneath the shimmering surface lies a deepening public-health crisis—one that has quietly but steadily begun to erode the well-being of the entire region. Recent scientific assessments, including reports by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), have dismantled the myth of visual purity. Water samples collected from multiple districts of Gilgit-Baltistan...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Gilgit , the provincial metropolis of Gilgit-Baltistan , was once a modest and well-balanced township, distinguished by two grand, parallel watercourses—locally known as dalejas —that supplied pristine drinking and irrigation water until the 1960s. Over time, however, this once-verdant landscape has been marred by a chequered urban history. Decades of haphazard construction, undertaken in the absence of any coherent town-planning framework or master plan, gradually dismantled natural water systems and disturbed ecological equilibrium, inflicting enduring damage on what had been a carefully sustained settlement. It is against this historical backdrop that the ongoing sewerage project in Gilgit has emerged as a focal point of intense public concern. Envisioned as a major step toward improved urban services and modern infrastructure, the project’s on-ground execution tells a far less reassuring story. A pronounced dis...

By  Syed Shamsuddin HUMILITY is among the most misunderstood virtues of the human moral tradition. Often mistaken for weakness or self-negation, humility is in fact a profound strength—a clear recognition of reality and an honest acceptance of one’s place within it. The timeless reminder, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return,” strips away illusions of superiority and calls the human conscience back to truth. It is a statement that humbles the proud, comforts the afflicted, and equalizes all of humanity. The Illusion of Superiority Human history is a long record of misplaced pride. Individuals and societies alike have believed themselves superior by virtue of wealth, power, lineage, knowledge, or faith. Yet these distinctions, however impressive they may appear, are transient. Empires rise and fall, reputations fade, and the strongest of bodies eventually surrender to frailty. The earth receives all without distinction—rulers...

By  Syed Shamsuddin HIGH-ALTITUDE Engineering and Connectivity: Lessons from China for Pakistan' The recent unveiling by China of the world’s longest expressway tunnel, constructed at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, marks a watershed moment in global infrastructure development. This monumental project is not merely a feat of length or altitude; it represents the maturation of high-altitude engineering, where extreme geography, harsh climate, and seismic complexity converge. The tunnel stands as a symbol of how modern engineering can overcome nature’s most formidable barriers to improve connectivity, safety, and economic integration. Significance of the Project Building an expressway tunnel at such elevation involves extraordinary challenges—thin air, extreme cold, geological instability, and logistical constraints. Successfully addressing these factors reflects China’s advanced capabilities in tunneling technology, geological s...

By  Syed Shamsuddin THE question of equitable access to employment opportunities for the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan has long remained a matter of serious national concern. Endowed with exceptional physical endurance, discipline, and an ingrained culture of hard work, the region’s youth nonetheless face a stark paradox: immense human potential trapped within an economy constrained by geography, climate, and structural neglect. Structural Constraints of Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan’s acute mountainous terrain, fragile ecology, and extreme climatic conditions have rendered large-scale agriculture and industrial development virtually unviable. Arable land is scarce, fragmented, and largely subsistence-oriented. Unlike other regions of the country, GB lacks industrial estates, manufacturing hubs, or private-sector employment ecosystems capable of absorbing its growing youth population. Consequently, educated and skilled young men a...

By  Syed Shamsuddin TREES are not merely a part of our natural surroundings; they are the very backbone of life on earth. They provide the oxygen we breathe, absorb carbon dioxide, and cleanse the air of pollutants, thereby sustaining human health and ecological balance. Trees regulate temperature, reduce the intensity of heat, and create microclimates that make life possible even in harsh terrains. Their presence transforms barren land into living landscapes and ensures continuity of life for generations. In an ecologically fragile and forest-starved region like Gilgit-Baltistan , the importance of trees assumes a far greater, almost existential, significance. This region hosts the bulk of Pakistan’s glaciers—the country’s true lifeline—feeding major river systems that sustain agriculture, drinking water supplies, and hydropower far downstream. Forests and tree cover help moderate local climates, reduce temperature extremes, and indi...

By  Syed Shamsuddin Gilgit , the administrative and commercial heart of Gilgit-Baltistan, is today grappling with a steadily worsening traffic crisis. One fails to understand why the relevant authorities have not yet demonstrated the resolve to undertake a significant expansion of the city’s main arterial road—a step that has become indispensable for mitigating the festering traffic snarls that now define daily life in this provincial metropolis. Over the past decade, Gilgit has witnessed rapid urbanization, population growth, and a sharp increase in vehicular traffic. Yet, the road infrastructure has largely remained frozen in time, bearing little relation to present-day realities. The principal thoroughfares, designed decades ago for far lighter traffic volumes, are now choked throughout the day. The consequences are visible and costly: chronic congestion, wasted productive hours, excessive fuel consumption, rising air and noise po...

By  Syed Shamsuddin The Cost of Unsafe Labor and Negligent Infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan As reported by Pamirtimes on 29 December 2025, the death of Mujeeb ur Rahman, a foreman of the Power Department electrocuted while repairing transmission lines in Passu, cannot be dismissed as a tragic accident. It is a stark indictment of systemic negligence, bureaucratic indifference, and the persistent failure to protect frontline utility workers in Gilgit-Baltistan. His burial in Gulmit, amid widespread public anger, reflected not only collective grief but also mounting outrage against an institution that repeatedly exposes its employees to mortal danger. This tragedy is not isolated. A near-identical fatality was recently reported from Astore, while earlier deaths have occurred in Danyore and other parts of Gilgit. Together, these incidents reveal a lethal pattern rather than unfortunate coincidence. Known Risks, Ignored Duties Resid...