Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By   Syed Shamsuddin [Paste and replace this with the text of the article, paste title of the article on top field, add labels in the top right sections each separated with a comma and publish the article] By Syed Shams Uddin It is a matter of great pride that Professor Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Nagari has reportedly been selected for the prestigious 2025 PRMA Award , which will be formally conferred upon him on July 26, 2025 , in Copenhagen, Denmark . This international recognition crowns an extraordinary academic journey that spans continents and defies conventional career expectations. Dr. Mustafa Nagari has achieved what few have accomplished—attaining full professorial status in Norway , a country known for its rigorous academic standards, and doing so within a remarkably short span of time. This landmark accomplishment not only affirms his exceptional scholarly merit but also positions him among a select group of global thought leaders making impactful contributions in their fiel...

By Syed Shams Uddin A deeply alarming video that surfaced on Facebook on July 22 has once again drawn public attention to the growing environmental vulnerability of Gilgit-Baltistan. The footage shows a colossal wave of floodwater—described by eyewitnesses as the largest ever—rushing through Danyore's Manogah stream and tearing past Sultanabad with ferocious intensity. Laden with mud, stones, uprooted vegetation, and other debris, the massive flood resembling a rampaging storm, struck the Hunza River at Sarwar's Khari innundating this tiny habitat by momentarily blocking the Hunza River. The waterscape of Danyore has been completely obliterated at places, as the flood first swept away the fragile piped water supply running through the nullah—on which the entire area, including Sultanabad, Muhammadabad, and central Danyore, depends. The irrigation system too has also been damaged, while other related losses are yet to be fully assessed.It is said that there has been flooding too...

By Syed Shams Uddin Today, July 22, stands as one of the darkest and most painful days in the recent memory of Gilgit-Baltistan and the nation at large. A tragic incident unfolded at Thak Nala near Babusar Top, transforming a journey of joy and exploration into an unspeakable calamity for the innocent tourists who had come to embrace the natural splendor and hospitality of our mountainous region. What was meant to be a celebration of Pakistan’s unparalleled beauty has become a national tragedy — a Black Day that will be remembered for the loss of precious lives, the suffering of survivors, and the haunting silence that now hangs over one of the most visited tourist corridors in the country. A Grieving Region Stands United The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are united in profound grief. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this devastating event. May Allah, the Most Merciful, grant the departed eternal peace, and bestow upon the bereaved families s...

By Syed Shams Uddin  In a tale steeped in the spirit of Rumi’s timeless wisdom, a cobra bites a snake — and is, in turn, strangled to death by the very creature it attacked. Both perish. Neither wins. This seemingly simple parable carries within it a profound warning: when members of the same kind turn on each other, mutual destruction is inevitable. It is a timeless metaphor for societies fractured by internal discord, where people once united by land, heritage, or faith descend into conflict driven by pride, ego, suspicion, and the thirst for dominance. Rumi’s deeper message could not be more relevant today: when brothers fight, there are no victors — only graves. In our own homeland, nestled in the valleys and mountains rich in heritage yet vulnerable to disruption, this truth reverberates with urgency. The cobra and the snake are not foreign foes; they symbolize us — siblings, neighbors, old friends. Their mutual demise is a reflection of what happens when communities allow int...

By Syed Shams Uddin In the quiet twilight of his life, a wise old man, sensing the nearness of his final hour, gathered his children and offered them a parting counsel unlike any farewell. His words were not adorned with sentimentality, nor burdened by emotional demands. Rather, they were imbued with realism, spiritual depth, and a remarkable foresight—crafted not just for his children, but for all who may one day face the irreversible reality of losing a parent while being far from home. In an age where migration, employment, study, and life’s unpredictable paths scatter families across the globe, the old man's message rises as a voice of clarity amidst grief's storm: “My dear children,” he said softly, “if my death comes while you are far away—perhaps in a foreign land or a distant city—do not rush home in desperation. The moment of passing is beyond retrieval. Nothing you do, no matter how swift your travel, will restore what has already returned to its Creator. Do not allow...

By   Syed Shamsuddin In the rugged valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan—where ancient glaciers feed terraced orchards and the air remains pure and dry—an age-old practice continues to thrive every summer: the natural drying of fruits under the open sky. Among the most beloved of these are apricots and mulberries, both cherished not only for their seasonal bounty but for their transformation into winter delicacies through the art of traditional sun-drying. Apricots: Golden Fruit of the Mountains Apricot trees bloom abundantly across the region, especially in valleys like Hunza, Ghizer, Skardu, and Shigar. By mid-summer, the trees hang heavy with ripe, golden-orange fruit. Villagers gather to harvest them in a communal, often celebratory spirit. The ripe apricots are then halved, their stones removed, and the fruit is laid out on wooden trays, rooftops, or flat stones to dry under the sun. No chemicals or additives are used—just sunlight, fresh air, and time. As the moisture evaporates, the ...

By   Syed Shamsuddin “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt In an age of melting glaciers, rising temperatures, and ecological imbalance, trees remain the planet’s quietest defenders—cooling, cleansing, and healing. From sprawling urban centers to the glaciated valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, their role is not merely ornamental—it is existential. A Single Tree, A Natural Climate Engine Through a process called evapotranspiration, a mature tree can release up to 380 liters of water vapor into the air every single day. This natural cooling effect draws heat away from the environment, reducing surface temperatures much like an invisible mist system. In fact, a study cited by Berkeley Lab and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that one tree provides the cooling effect of five to eight air conditioners running for 20 hours—and does it silently, clea...