Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin PERHAPS the greening of Gilgit-Baltistan must begin with retaining water—not merely planting trees. Whenever the subject of greening Gilgit-Baltistan arises, our immediate response is usually tree plantation. Trees are undoubtedly essential to the ecological health of our mountains. But perhaps we need to ask a more fundamental question: Where will the water come from to sustain the trees? Gilgit-Baltistan is a cold-arid, mountainous region with limited and irregular rainfall. Yet enormous quantities of water enter its valleys through snowfall, snowmelt, glacier melt and episodic rainfall. Much of this water rapidly descends through countless nullahs and mountain channels, carrying away fertile soil and sediment before disappearing downstream. The real challenge, therefore, may not simply be to plant more trees. It may be to retain more water within the mountains . This brings forth a potentially transformative idea...

By  Syed Shamsuddin THERE are occasions when a long-standing demand ceases to be a demand and becomes an imperative. The construction of a new, modern airport at Gilgit is now precisely such an imperative. As reported on social media on 16 July 2026, the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan has, in his letter dated 15 July 2026 addressed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, most justifiably drawn attention to the urgent need for a new airport at Gilgit. The appeal deserves the serious and positive consideration of the federal government—not as another routine administrative request, but as a matter of overriding importance for the future of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is, indeed, difficult to understand why the issue continues to linger. Gilgit-Baltistan has changed dramatically. Its aviation infrastructure has not. The region has emerged as one of Pakistan's most coveted tourist destinations and has earned international recognition, having ...

By  Syed Shamsuddin The announcement by Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Advocate Amjad Hussain Azar, regarding the establishment of a Glacier Protection Authority is not merely a regional administrative measure; it is a matter of profound national importance. In reality, the glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan constitute Pakistan's most critical natural asset, for they form the principal source of the country's freshwater resources, agricultural sustainability, hydropower generation, and long-term water security. For decades, Gilgit-Baltistan has rightly been described as Pakistan's "Water Tower" . The region contains more than 13,000 glaciers, representing the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. These glaciers feed the Indus River system upon which the overwhelming majority of Pakistan's population depends. It is frequently estimated that the snow and glacier melt originating from the Karakor...

By  Syed Shamsuddin THE  Gilgit–Skardu Expressway stands as one of the most remarkable infrastructure projects undertaken in Gilgit-Baltistan. It has dramatically reduced travel time between Gilgit and Skardu, strengthened regional integration, facilitated trade, and opened Baltistan to an unprecedented influx of domestic and international tourists. Today, the highway is not merely a road; it is the economic and social lifeline connecting the twin regions of Gilgit and Baltistan. Yet, despite its immense significance, one critical weakness continues to undermine its reliability. The Astak Nala–Malopa section in Roundu Valley remains chronically vulnerable to landslides, rockfalls, flash floods, and slope failures. Almost every year, this notorious stretch becomes impassable, bringing traffic to a standstill, endangering precious lives, disrupting tourism, and interrupting the movement of goods and emergency services. While t...

By  Syed Shamsuddin THE constitutional and political journey of Gilgit-Baltistan (formerly known as the Northern Areas) has been characterized by gradual institutional development rather than abrupt constitutional transformation. Over the past five and a half decades, successive governments—both military and civilian—have introduced a series of reforms aimed at expanding representative governance, strengthening administrative structures, and enhancing the legislative and executive role of locally elected institutions. The following chronology highlights the principal milestones in this evolutionary process, together with the Head of State (President of Pakistan or, where applicable, the Chief Martial Law Administrator/Chief Executive) and the Head of Government who held executive authority at the time each reform or electoral milestone occurred. Year Major Reform / Milestone Head of State Head of Government 1970 Establishment of the No...

By  Syed Shamsuddin The recent speech by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Pakistan's Parliament, wherein he underscored the imperative of resolving the constitutional ambiguity surrounding Gilgit-Baltistan, has been widely welcomed across the region. His remarks have rekindled a long-standing national conversation on an issue that has remained unresolved for more than five decades despite successive constitutional and administrative reforms. For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, constitutional ambiguity is not merely an academic or legal concern; it has tangible implications for democratic representation, governance, judicial certainty, economic planning, investment, and the overall trajectory of regional development. It is, therefore, encouraging that a national political leader has once again brought this matter to the forefront of parliamentary discourse. What makes Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's statement particularly noteworthy is its histor...