Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin While browsing Facebook on December 14, 2025, I came across the following words in Urdu, attributed to Jaun Elia, which I instantly attempted to render into English: “According to the current of my own conviction, I hold human beings exceedingly dear. I possess an immeasurable love for oppressed and deprived people, and to me this love is the greatest form of worship—indeed, the highest virtue of my self. And it is my belief that the majority of my respected readers also love human beings deeply, and that they do not divide them on the basis of race, language, creed, or region.” Jaun Elia’s brief yet profoundly charged statement is not merely a declaration of personal sentiment; it is a carefully articulated moral position that challenges conventional religious, social, and ideological hierarchies. In these lines, Jaun Elia foregrounds insān (the human being) as the central object of ethical concern, elevating com...

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 ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin International Mountain Day, observed every year on 11 December , serves as a universal reminder that the world’s mountains—repositories of biodiversity, water towers for billions, and cradles of human cultural diversity—are under increasing stress. Since its inception in 2002, the day has become a focal point for mobilizing global action on sustainable mountain development. For Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) , a region whose identity, culture, ecology, and economy are woven intimately with mountains, the day holds a significance deeper than symbolic observance; it resonates at the level of existential necessity. A Region Defined by the Great Peaks Gilgit-Baltistan is home to a concentration of high mountains unmatched elsewhere on the planet. K2 , the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 metres, and Nanga Parbat , the ninth-highest at 8,126 metres, are but two of the towering sentinels that give GB its global prominence....

By  Syed Shamsuddin Mini-Dams as Engines of Resilience: Rethinking Water Security, Climate Adaptation, and Land Productivity in Gilgit-Baltistan A recent social media discussion surrounding the long-abandoned proposal to construct a mini-dam at the Manogah nullah in Danyore—one of the most populous and rapidly expanding settlements contiguous to Gilgit city—has renewed an important debate. The conversation revealed not only how promising the project originally was, but also how its shelving represents a lost opportunity for the entire region. Had the Manogah mini-dam materialized, it could have served as a pioneering model for other valleys across Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), demonstrating the feasibility of regulated year-round water flow, hydropower generation, and enhanced resilience against climate-induced hazards. Indeed, the initiative could have been the first step toward a strategic, region-wide transformation—precisely the vision ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin World Soil Day 2025: A Call to Protect the Land That Sustains Gilgit-Baltistan As the world marks World Soil Day on December 5, 2025 , its message echoes with exceptional urgency across Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) —a region perched on the frontline of climate change. Here, the fragile mountain soils, limited in extent and vital for both life and livelihood, are degrading rapidly. Accelerated glacier melt, erratic weather patterns, frequent landslides, and unsustainable land-use practices are all eroding the very foundation upon which the region’s survival depends. In G-B, only a sliver of land is arable. Soil is not merely earth—it is food security, cultural continuity, and the basis of settlement stability. Once damaged, it cannot be easily restored. This World Soil Day reminds us that protecting the soil is essential for protecting the people. Yet this year’s observance coincides with a timely development in Pakista...