Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

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The True Measure of Life

By Syed Shamsuddin “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to make a difference.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson This profound reflection by Emerson redirects human attention from the fleeting pursuit of personal pleasure toward the enduring pursuit of meaningful existence. Happiness, though desirable, is often transient and dependent upon circumstances; but usefulness, honor, compassion, and positive influence leave behind an imperishable legacy. Emerson therefore elevates life from mere self-indulgence to moral and social responsibility. To be useful is to become a source of benefit for others. A life devoted solely to personal comfort soon fades into insignificance, whereas a person who alleviates suffering, imparts knowledge, or contributes to society continues to live in the gratitude and memory of mankind. The value of a tree lies not in its appearance alone but in the shade ...

Gilgit-Baltistan: Federal Jobs Quota System Inequity

By Syed Shamsuddin The following exposition seeks to draw urgent national attention to the growing sense of deprivation, exclusion, and institutional inequity increasingly experienced by the educated youth of Gilgit-Baltistan as a consequence of the flawed restructuring of the federal quota regime introduced in 2020 — a policy alteration whose discriminatory repercussions are now manifesting with alarming clarity in the allocation pattern of Pakistan’s Civil Services. The quota system in Pakistan’s Civil Services has never been a mere bureaucratic mechanism for numerical distribution of vacancies; rather, it constitutes an essential constitutional instrument designed to preserve the principles of inclusive federation, balanced representation, and participatory governance among historically underrepresented regions of the country. The philosophical foundation of the quota framework was to compensate for structural disparities and to en...

When the Sheltering Tree Fell: A Tribute to My Father on the 27th of Ramzan

By Syed Shamsuddin This humble elegy is offered in loving remembrance of my late father, who, after a brief illness, returned to his eternal abode on the blessed night of the 27th of Ramzan in 1994. A Father Remembered on a Blessed Night Among the sacred nights of the holy month of Ramadan, the twenty-seventh holds a place of profound reverence in the hearts of Muslims across the world. It is widely associated with Laylat al-Qadr—the Night of Power , one of the most blessed and mysterious moments of the holy month. On this night, believers turn to the Almighty with softened hearts, seeking forgiveness, mercy, and spiritual renewal. Mosques and homes resonate with prayer and recitation as countless hands rise in humble supplication. In authentic traditions, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised the faithful to seek Laylat al-Qadr during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, for within those nights lies a moment whose blessings...

Overseas Employment Opportunities and the Case for a Dedicated Quota for Gilgit-Baltistan’s Youth

By Syed Shamsuddin In recent months, significant developments have been reported regarding Pakistan’s expanding footprint in the global labour market. On 18 January 2026, news widely circulated on social media quoting Chaudhry Salik Hussain , the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, as stating that global demand for skilled Pakistani manpower is steadily increasing. According to these reports, substantial employment opportunities are available particularly in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council , as well as in countries such as South Korea and Japan , alongside other emerging international labour markets. To respond to this growing demand, the government has reportedly introduced a new strategy centered on enhancing the skill profile of Pakistani workers. A key component of this initiative is the launch of soft-skills training programmes in collaboration with South Korea and Japan. T...

When Institutions Listen: Social Media as a Bridge to Civic Redress

By Syed Shamsuddin Responsive Governance in the Age of Public Voice — A Generalized Perspective In contemporary administrative environments, the distance between citizens and public institutions becomes most visible during everyday service disruptions—potable water shortages, inequitable electricity distribution, sanitation lapses, and municipal service delays. These are not abstract governance concerns; they are lived realities that directly shape public trust. In the digital era, such grievances increasingly surface first on social media platforms. Citizens document problems, share visual evidence, and mobilize public attention when conventional bureaucratic channels appear slow or inaccessible. Rather than dismissing these expressions as routine online dissent, responsive governance frameworks recognize them as early civic alerts—signals of service delivery gaps that demand timely cognisance. When institutions treat digital com...

Wisdom with a Smile: Remembering Trangfa Haji Muhammad Anwar of Gilgit

By Syed Shamsuddin A Eulogy on the Humor of Late Trangfa Muhammad Anwar A Facebook reflection by Sheikh Ayaz on 18.02.2026 inspired this writer to juxtapose its insight with the life of the late Trangfa Muhammad Anwar —a lifelong reformist whose instrument was humor. The passing of Trangfa Muhammad Anwar Sahib of Khomar, Gilgit, a few years ago silenced not merely a voice of laughter, but a voice of luminous understanding. For those who knew him—whether intimately or from a respectful distance—his humor was never performance; it was perception made audible. He did not entertain society; he interpreted it. In the classical sense reminiscent of Aristophanes , humor in Anwar Sahib’s hands was cognition in motion—a way of thinking aloud through wit. Where others saw events, he saw contradictions. Where many reacted, he diagnosed. His laughter was never empty sound; it carried embedded analysis. It brings to mind the insight often echo...