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Dr. Ruth Pfau: A Beacon of Compassion and Healing in Pakistan

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By  Syed Shamsuddin A rare and deeply moving glimpse of Dr. Ruth Pfau—Pakistan’s Mother Teresa—at the Gilgit Amphary Leprosy Hospital , as shared by Ilyas Moqeem in his Facebook post of 11 August 2026, brings back the memory of a remarkable woman whose life was an extraordinary testament to compassion, service and human dignity. Dr. Ruth Pfau was far more than a physician. She was a missionary of mercy who devoted her life to reaching those whom society had pushed to its margins. At a time when leprosy was surrounded by fear, stigma and fatalism , she chose to stand beside its victims—not merely to treat their disease, but to restore their dignity, rekindle their hope and give them a voice. Her contribution to Gilgit-Baltistan occupies a special place in the region’s public-health history. Under her dedicated leadership and through the efforts of the institutions and teams she inspired, leprosy was brought under control in the region ...
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The Horrowing Retreat of Bagrote’s Glaciers: A Warning from the High Mountain

By  Syed Shamsuddin The glaciers of Bagrote, tucked within the breathtaking valley in close proximity to Gilgit, the provincial capital of Gilgit-Baltistan , are among the most striking natural features of this high-mountain landscape. Today, however, they have become equally striking—and deeply disturbing—indicators of a rapidly changing climate. The transformation is particularly poignant for those who witnessed these glaciers in their former grandeur. When still in his teens, this scribe personally witnessed, with his own eyes, some six decades ago, a landscape vastly different from that of today. At the time, the glacier lay barely a stone’s throw from both Bulcheh and Chira , its icy mass reaching astonishingly close to the settled areas. Indeed, at Pacheh in Chira , the advancing glacier had encroached so far upon the route that the track was, at times, rendered completely impassable. This firsthand recollection, preserved in liv...
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Hankah: The Forgotten Tradition of Royal and Official Driven Hunting in Gilgit-Baltistan

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By  Syed Shamsuddin Until the early 1960s, there existed in Gilgit-Baltistan a practice that older generations still recall with remarkable clarity. It was known locally as "Hankah." The word evokes memories not merely of hunting, but of an entire administrative culture inherited from the princely states of Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, Punial, and the Dogra and British administrations that later governed the region. Today, the term has almost disappeared from public memory, surviving only in the recollections of elderly villagers. The Hankah was not an ordinary hunting expedition. It was a carefully organized driven hunt conducted for rulers, governors, political agents, military commanders, or distinguished visitors who wished to enjoy the sport of hunting wild game, particularly the Chukar Partridge ( Alectoris chukar ) , the national bird of Pakistan and one of the most abundant game birds of the rocky mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan....
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The Forgotten Legacies

By   Syed Shamsuddin   Tracing the Legacy of a Time-Honored Tradition in Gilgit-Baltistan : In the unforgiving terrain of Gilgit-Baltistan, where survival hinges on resilience and adaptability, communities have long adhered to a meticulously structured calendar, dictated by seasonal cycles . This tradition governed every aspect of life, from agriculture to livestock management, ensuring sustenance in an environment fraught with challenges. Spring marked a time of both relief and urgency—relief at having endured the brutal winter, yet urgency in preparing for the arduous tasks ahead. Fields and water channels had to be cleared and reinforced, laying the groundwork for the cultivation of life-sustaining crops. Livestock, weakened from the harsh cold, were readied for their seasonal migration to the high-altitude pastures , where they would graze and regain strength over the summer. The village then braced for the scorching summer, a season of relentless labor as crops ripened an...
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The Last Footprints of the Ooreen The Lost Ooreen of Gilgit: Reconstructing the Former Range and Decline of the Urial in the Lower Gilgit Valley

By  Syed Shamsuddin "Ooreen Dar Marak toh amoshae" A local legend in Gilgit recounts that whenever a Ladakh urial crosses a mountain ridge to the other side, it leaves behind every memory of the hardships and dangers it has endured. The ridge, in folklore, marks not merely a physical boundary but a symbolic threshold beyond which past suffering is forgotten and life begins anew. The Last Ooreen of Gilgit The following account is based primarily on local oral narratives that have been transmitted across generations in the lower Gilgit Valley. Although these recollections are broadly consistent with the ecology of the region and the known habitat preferences of the species concerned, they have yet to be substantiated through documentary evidence such as hunting records, forestry files, or the writings of early administrators and explorers. Accordingly, the observations presented here should be regarded as a historical-ecological r...
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Open Kutchehries and Responsive Governance: A New Administrative Culture for Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin THE decision of the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Amjad Hussain Azar, to hold regular open kutchehries (public hearings) is a highly commendable initiative and a welcome augury for the future of governance in the region. At a time when a considerable segment of the population finds it exceedingly difficult to gain access to public functionaries, this people-centric approach reflects a leadership that is willing to listen directly to the voices of ordinary citizens. It is an encouraging departure from the traditional bureaucratic culture where the corridors of power often remain inaccessible to the poor, the underprivileged, and those residing in far-flung valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. For countless citizens, approaching government offices to seek redress of genuine grievances is itself a daunting ordeal. Administrative procedures are often lengthy, multiple offices have to be visited, and in many cases, the ab...
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Laughter with a Purpose: Revitalizing Shina Theatre and Culture

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By  Syed Shamsuddin THE talented young duo, Baqir and Asad, the latter tall in stature and the former of notably shorter height—popularly known as Ustad and Shagird —hail from Jalalabad, Bagrote, and have emerged as two of the most promising performers on the contemporary Shina cultural scene.  Through their engaging comic performances, they have demonstrated that humour, when intelligently crafted, is far more than a source of entertainment—it can serve as a powerful medium for social awareness, education, and cultural preservation. Their work has prompted a timely and commendable call for the establishment of a dramatic society in the region, a proposal that deserves serious consideration by the relevant authorities, cultural organizations, and members of civil society. Gilgit-Baltistan possesses a rich and diverse cultural heritage, yet organized theatre and dramatic arts have remained largely neglected. A properly constitute...
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