News Desk Shirin Nazirmadova, a doctor from southern Tajikistan, has been saving for years to afford the hajj pilgrimage that all able Muslims are required to make once in their lives. But like millions of others, Nazirmadova’s dream journey of a lifetime was shattered when Saudi Arabia decided last month to bar international visitors from making the pilgrimage this year …

Will the reopening of tourism in GB provide some relief or has the pandemic made the future of tourism more uncertain, questions Madeeha Syed in an essay published in Dawn Sunday issue.  As the country reels under a pandemic, tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan has been hit particularly hard. The prime minister announced the reopening of tourism, hoping it will provide some relief. But …

The COVID-19 pandemic shows how wildlife crime is a threat not only to the environment but to human health, according to a new UN report issued on Friday. The World Wildlife Crime Report 2020 outlines how trafficking in some wild species, which are then butchered and sold illegally, can increase the transmission of diseases that spread from animals to humans. No country …

32 students hailing from Gilgit-Baltistan are stranded in China waiting for repatriation for the last three months Herald Special Islamabad: Scores of students hailing from Gilgit-Baltistan are stranded in China due to non-availability of flights and closure of Khunjerav border. They have been notified by their universities and dormitories to leave the host country by July 20. Over 30 students …

Youngsters start #Internet4GilgitBaltistan campaign; pictures of students sitting on mountaintops with books and laptops highlight issue, reports Gulf News Herald Report A campaign for digital rights #Internet4GilgitBaltistan, launched by a group of techno-savvy student and social media activists last week continues to attract international media attention. Gulf News on Thursday published a report on the telecom crisis. However, the telecom service provider and …

By Wajidul Islam   The National Finance Commission (NFC) is a resource-sharing mechanism between the federal government and federating units. It was constituted under Article 160(1) of the 1973 Constitution. It is mandatory to constitute and hold the NFC meeting in every five consecutive years. The purpose of the award is to review the collection of revenues by the Centre …

Student’s Solidarity Protest against Poor Internet connectivity & falsified policies of HEC regarding online classes organised by All Baltistan Movement in Skardu.#teamABM Posted by ABM (All Baltistan Movement) on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Students from GB, Kashmir, ex-Fata districts, Seraiki and Balochistan regions demand suspension of online classes, waiver of fees Inayat Abdali, Iqbal Salik & Aunil Muntazir   Gilgit/Ghizer/Skardu/Islamabad: …

Harris Khalique, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in an interview to The News on Sunday’s Wajeeha Haider, talks about the rights and privacy situation in the country during the ongoing pandemic, his concerns regarding state-sponsored surveillance and the many ways in which the government could have better handled the situation. The News on Sunday (TNS): The pandemic has posed …

Doctors, paramedics and patients complain about the lack of facilities and apathy of the health officials     By Mehtabur Rehman GILGIT: While the Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and his media team are busy in propagating his achievements in the fight against coronavirus in Gilgit-Baltistan, the doctors and paramedics who are fighting on the frontline, as well as patients, are …

Six members of a family who travelled from Karachi to Hunza have been quarantined   Herald Report Hunza: One more person has tested positive for coronavirus in Hunza District. So far two persons have been affected by the virus in the district. A man belonging to Hini (Nasirabad) lower Hunza has tested positive for the virus, sources in the district …