Correspondent GILGIT, Aug 25: While the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are gloomy for being neglected and worried about their ecology, culture and economy, President Mamnoon Hussain foresees ‘opportunities’ and ‘prosperity’ for them with the coming of CPEC that will pass through the mountain region. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will not only bring economic prosperity but also open up new academic …

News Desk About 50 million people are at risk of arsenic poisoning from contaminated groundwater in Pakistan’s Indus Valley, far more than previously thought, according to a new study. Pakistan is aware of the growing problem, with arsenic levels rising in some areas as people increasingly and indiscriminately draw from the country’s underground aquifers, said Lubna Bukhari, who heads the …

PASSU: Sitting on a small hill along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Passu, Hunza, the Glacier Breeze café is famous for its delicious apricot cake. The only thing that beats it is the fantastic view of Passu the café offers: a small piece of Batura glacier that shines in the sun on the one side and the blue waters of …

Aziz Ali Dad The culture of Gilgit-Baltistan has evolved over the centuries within a mental framework or worldview that is unique to the region. Likewise, the economy, literature, society, music and architecture of the region have a close relationship with the indigenous worldview. Within the traditional social setup, cultural knowledge is transmitted through institutions, personalities, rituals and activities that are …

F. Ali Cultural, environmental and civil society activists, researchers and development experts are worried about the impact of globalization on indigenous people, their culture and ecology, particularly the second wave of changes that is taking place in the shape of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) after opening of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) about three decades ago. However, they also …

News Desk Participants of a conference here on Tuesday demanded an immediate end to repression on political and rights activists, suppression of the freedom of expression in Gilgit-Baltistan and withdrawal of cases instituted against activists on trumped up charges. They also demanded the withdrawal of all draconian laws such as ATA and Cyber Crime Act from GB. The conference was …

News Desk The University of London (UOL) has not allowed a private Pakistani TV channel for using its venue for a session with former military dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf, says GEO News channel. The university has stated that it will not allow All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) President Pervez Musharraf to use its venue to take part in a question …

Farman Baltistani SKARDU, Aug 21: Babar Khan won the first highest cold desert jeep rally at the Sarfa Ranga desert of Shigar District on Sunday after a tough competition between 72 jeep drivers and 20 motorcyclists coming from different cities of the country. In A category, driver Babar Khan won the 30km race in 18 minutes and 25 seconds followed …

Correspondent SKARDU, Aug 20: The federal and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) governments are taking a keen interest in the development of Baltistan, Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman says. Giving details of the uplift projects being initiated in Baltistan Division at a news conference here on Sunday, he said Rs2 million has been approved for setting up a university in Baltistan. Work on the …

News Desk An all-parties conference (APC) has been rescheduled on Wednesday (Aug 23) to discuss the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression and violation of fundamental rights in Gilgit-Baltistan, Supreme Appellate Court Bar Association (SACBA) President Advocate Ehsan Ali said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. The APC has been called by the Awami Action Tehreek or People’s …

Special Correspondent GILGIT, Aug 20: Customary laws and indigenous knowledge have played a crucial role in the sustainable development of livelihood of local communities and managing their natural resources. However, the customary laws should be tailored in a way that could meet the modern challenges and needs of the people. There is a need to revisit the customary laws, which …

Correspondent SKARDU, Aug 19: The first ever cold desert jeep rally started here on Saturday. Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Speaker #Fida #Muhammad #Nashad inaugurated the event. While addressing the guests and the participating drivers, he announced that next year the event will be organized at international level. He said Baltistan is home to lofty peaks including K2, the world’s second highest …

By Waseem Altaf As you travel from Rawalpindi to Jhelum on the #GT #Road, you pass through Dina, a small town at a distance of 92 kilometres from #Rawalpindi. On this day (18 August) in 1934, #Sampooran #Singh #Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar, was born here. His father was a textile trader with an establishment both at Dina and Delhi. …

HAH Report The top court of Gilgit-Baltistan has adjourned the hearing of a petition filed by Baba Jan, a prominent Leftist political leader of GB, in the court to review its verdict. On Wednesday, Amjad Hussain, one of the counsels of Jan, presented arguments against the June 2016 verdict of the Supreme Appellate Court (SAP) verdict and the Chief Court …

Text and Photos by Iram Ramzan A 23-hour coach journey from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan to the mountainous regions of the north was hardly ideal after a tiring flight the day before — but there was no other choice as our internal flight was cancelled. Jet-lagged and sleep-deprived, I boarded the coach at around 3am in pitch darkness with …