Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

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Solar Tracking Panels for Gilgit-Baltistan

By Syed Shamsuddin Following the Sun in the Mountains: Solar Tracking Panels for Gilgit-Baltistan In mountainous regions, geography shapes every dimension of life—mobility, livelihoods, and above all, access to energy. The northern expanse of Gilgit-Baltistan exemplifies this reality. Despite receiving abundant solar irradiance due to its high altitude and clear skies, the region continues to face chronic electricity shortages. The paradox lies not in the absence of sunlight, but in the difficulty of harnessing it efficiently amid towering peaks and shadowed valleys. Conventional fixed solar panels, now increasingly deployed in off-grid communities, have brought measurable relief. Yet their static design limits performance in mountainous terrain. In narrow valleys, sunlight arrives late, fades early, and is frequently obstructed by surrounding ridgelines. During winter months—when the sun’s arc is low—fixed panels fail to capture a...

Solar Relief for Gilgit-Baltistan: Federal Government Launches Rs 2 Billion Free Solar Panel & Inverter Scheme

By Syed Shamsuddin A significant step toward addressing the chronic electricity crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has emerged through a major federal intervention aimed at promoting renewable energy access in the mountainous region. According to a video report circulating on social media on 11 February 2026 , attributed to journalist Abdur Rehman Bokhari , the Federal Government has initiated a Rs 2 billion scheme for the free distribution of solar energy systems among the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiative is being viewed as a timely relief measure for a region that has for decades grappled with acute power shortages—particularly during the harsh winter months when hydropower generation declines sharply due to reduced water flows. Addressing a Long-Standing Energy Crisis Gilgit-Baltistan’s unique topography, dispersed settlements, and limited grid connectivity have historically constrained its power infrastructure. Reliance...

A Shelter Lifted: In Memoriam - Mother's Passing

By Syed Shamsuddin A Mother’s Passing: An Irreplaceable Loss When a mother’s hand rests upon one’s head, every worry fades away. Her love is not merely an emotion; it is a shield of protection that guards us through every hardship. The passing of one’s mother is an immeasurable loss that leaves behind a void no passage of time can ever fill. A mother’s departure from the ephemeral world to eternity deprives her children of her unconditional love, silent prayers, and lifelong blessings—leaving a wound that remains tender throughout life. When both parents are gone, it feels as though the shelter overhead has collapsed, leaving the offspring exposed at the very stage when parental presence is needed most. While death is an inescapable reality ordained by the Almighty— “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return” —the loss of a mother carries a uniquely profound anguish that words can scarcely convey. Every moment of life ...

A Comprehensive Study of an Ancient Faith: A History of Bon Philosophy

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...

When Crystal-Clear Water Turns Toxic: The Silent Public Health Crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan

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...

Gilgit Sewerage Project: From Modern Technology to Local Mismanagement — A Chronicle of Public Hardship

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...