Gilgit
Baltistan was formerly known as the Northern Areas of Pakistan, is located in
northern Pakistan. Gilgit Baltistan borders Afghanistan to the north, China to
the northeast, the Pakistani administrated state of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir
(AJK) to the south, and the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir to
the southeast. The territory of Gilgit-Baltistan consists of seven districts
namely Gilgit, Ghezir, Hunza Nagar, Diamar, Astore, Baltistan (Skardu) and
Ghanche.
The isolation associated with the Karakoram
mountains
ensured that
Gilgit-Baltistan, developed and preserved its unique history, cultural values
and traditional political identity. Over the centuries, the region of
Gilgit-Baltistan came under the control of the Durrani Empire of Afghanistan
and experienced four centuries of Muslim rule under the Mughals (until 1751)
and the Afghan Durranis, who ruled until 1820. Between 1832 and 1860, the
region of Gilgit-Baltistan was conquered by the Sikhs and the Dogras who
administered the region as part of the Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu
under the tutelage of the British Crown. Between 1935 and 1947 the territory of
Gilgit-Baltistan was given to the British on lease in order to enable them to
keep watch on the developments in Xinjiang and Afghanistan.
When then English returned the Gilgit warrant, the territory of
Gilgit-Baltistan became the third "Northern Area†province of
Kashmir and Jammu. On
1st November 1947,
the local population of Gilgit Baltistan of
Gilgit-Baltistan fought the Dogra Raj and
joined Pakistan and declared an
independent
Republic in Gilgit. This Gilgit government,
along with similar governments in Muzaffarabad
and Sringar, formed the three UN-recognized interim
governments in the disputed former state of three provinces. However, following
the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Pakistan occupied the territories to the north
and west of the cease-fire line and divided the territory into the Northern
Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan) and Azad, Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the south.
On
29 August 2009, the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order
2009, was passed by the Pakistani cabinet and later signed by the President. It
granted self-rule to the people of the former Northern Areas, now renamed
"Gilgit-Baltistan," by creating, among other things, an elected
legislative assembly.
In
early September 2009, Pakistan signed an agreement with China of a mega energy
project in Gilgit-Baltistan
which includes the construction of a 7000-megawatt dam at Bunji in the Astore
District of the Gilgit-Baltistan.[7] This also resulted in protest from India,
however Indian concerns were immediately rejected by Pakistan, saying the
Government of India has no locus standi in the matter.[8]
On
September 29, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani while addressing a huge
gathering at Gilgit-Baltistan announced a multi-billion rupee development
package aimed at the socio-economic uplifting people in the area. Development
projects will include the areas of education, health, agriculture, tourism and
basic needs of life.[9] The Prime Minister further went on to say:
"You
are getting your identity today. It is your right and has been your demand, and
today we are fulfilling it."
Travel and Tousim
Gilgit
Baltistan has the unique distinction of being the convergent point of the three
mightiest mountain ranges in the world, namely, the Himalaya, Karakoram and
Hindu Kush. These ranges have many of the world's highest peaks and the
world’s largest concentration of glaciers outside the Polar Regions.
Nature
has given Gilgit Baltistan with perfect beauty, high peaks, snowy mountains,
fresh water lakes, lush
green fairy meadows, at the same time this area is also blessed with unlimited
and heavy deposits of precious and semi-precious stones, precious &
semi-precious metals, and industrial stones like Ruby, Gold, Topaz, Aquamarine,
Tourmaline, Epidote, Paragasite, Zircon, Actinolite, Lead, Moonstone, Himalayan
Quartz, Emerald, Marble, Granite, Feldspar, Mica, Calcite, Feldspar, Antimony,
Graphite, Alum, Coal, Copper, Barite, China Clay etc. It is estimated that
almost 95% of the precious & semi-precious stones located in Pakistan are
found in Gilgit Baltistan.
Gilgit
Baltistan currency is Pak Rupee but foreign currencies are also accepted by
hotels and gift shops. Exchange facilities are available with all banks and
local moneychangers. Shina is language mainly spoken and understood in Gilgit
Baltistan. Beside Shina people can speak and understand Urdu and English. The
peak tourist season is from May to mid-October though the tourist season is
round the year. The maximum temperature in May is 33 C and minimum 16 C In
September.
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