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Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan will take oath as the caretaker chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday (today), following the end of Chief Minister Gulbar Khan’s tenure and the dissolution of the region’s assembly. The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly and government were dissolved at midnight on Monday after completing their constitutional term. With the assembly’s dissolution, the region’s government also stood dissolved, according to an official announcement.

GILGIT – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expelled Chief Minister Haji Gulber Khan along with 10 of his cabinet ministers from the party for allegedly plotting against PTI, forming a forward block, and voting against party directives. The crackdown targets former GB Governor and PTI local president Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, whose primary membership has been suspended […] The post GB CM Gulbar Khan, 10 Ministers kicked out of PTI amid alleged conspiracy appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

GILGIT – The government of Gilgit-Baltistan announced a public holiday today on Thursday as Ismaili community is observing three-Day mourning after the demise of 49th Imam Prince Karim Aga Khan. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar declared three days of mourning from February 5 to 7, and during this period, the national flag will be flown […] The post Public Holiday in Gilgit today amid 3-day mourning over death of Aga Khan IV appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

• GB Assembly’s five-year term ends on Nov 24 • CM Gulbar Khan and Opposition Leader Kazim Mesum to meet Amir Muqam in Islamabad today GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and Opposition Leader in GB Assembly Kaz­im Mesum will meet Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Amir Muqam to nominate the caretaker chief minister, as the legislative body compl­ete its five-year tenure on November 24. Under GB Order 2018, if the GB chief minister, the opposition leader, and the federal minister fail to reach a consensus on the nomination of a caretaker chief minister, the prime minister of Pakistan, as chairman of the GB Council, has the authority to appoint a caretaker chief minister at his discretion. Earlier, through a letter, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Amir Muqam invited the GB chief minister and opposition leader for a consultation meeting to reach a consensus on nominating a candidate for the caretaker GB chief minister’s position. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (today) in Islamabad. Talking to _Dawn_ , Mr Muqam said that the five-year term of the current GB Assembly will expire on Nov 24 and under the GB Order 2018, elections must be held within 60 days. He added that, according to the Order, the GB chief minister, the opposition leader, and the federal minister should agree on one name for the caretaker chief minister. Replying to a question, Mr Muqam said that in the meeting, efforts would be made to reach a consensus on nominating a suitable person for the post of caretaker chief minister. “If we cannot agree on a single name, the proposed names will be sent to prime minister, who, as chairman of the GB Council, has the discretion to nominate any suitable person for the position,” he added. Before consultation with federal minister, the GB chief minister and the opposition leader had failed to agree on a suitable candidate, as both had proposed different names. Source said it would be difficult to reach a consensus in the upcoming consultation meeting, and the matter would likely be referred to the prime minister. _Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2025_

ISLAMABAD: As many as 11 lawmakers of Gilgit Baltistan, including Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, lost the basic membership of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for making a forward bloc and voting against the party policy, according to the termination letters issued to them. Besides CM Khan, members of GB Legislative Assembly Surayya Zaman, Shamsul Haq Lone, Raja Nasir Khan Maqpoon, Raja Azam Khan Amacha, Syed Amjad Zaidi, Mushtaq Ahmad, Haji Shah Baig, Dilshad Bano, Abdul Hameed and Fazal Rahim were given formal termination notices, all containing identical wording. “This letter serves as formal notice of termination of your membership, effective immediately. This decision has been made in accordance with party’s policy and procedures. The reason for this termination is your actions in the GB Assembly, specifically making a forward bloc and voting against the party decision, which is a clear violation of our party’s policy. “Your actions have caused harm to the party’s interests and reputation,” stated the letters issued by Additional Secretary General of PTI Firdous Shamim Naqvi. > Party announces complete support for strike in Balochistan against lawlessness All the 11 lawmakers were directed to “refrain from using party’s [PTI] name, designation and/or membership in any manner or whatsoever, failing which the party reserves to take action against you which may also lead to legal action,” the letters stated. However, according to a party insider, the issuance of letters may not make any difference to them, as the “whole system” was allegedly backing them. Also, the PTI issued a show-cause notice to former GB governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, according to _Dawn.com_. The notice, dated Sept 5, said it had come to PTI’s notice that Mr Maqpoon had “conspired against the party and approached party members for defection”. “In view of these reported activities, you are hereby called to explain yourself in writing within two days of this notice. If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules,” it added. **Backs strike in Balochistan** Meanwhile, acting on the direction of PTI founder Imran Khan, the PTI announced complete support for the wheel-jam and shutter-down strike in Balochistan on Monday against escalating lawlessness, rising terrorism, and the government’s failure to protect citizens. The call for province-wide strike was given by a six-party opposition alliance comprising Balo­chistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Pasht­unkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP), and Majlis Wahdat-i-Musl­imeen (MWM). A statement from PTI’s central media department explained that the coalition had announced the joint protest against the recent attack at Shahwani Stadium on BNP-M rally, which claimed several precious lives and left many others injured. It emphasised that the strike was intended not only to mourn the victims of the tragedy but also to expose the government’s abject failure to provide security to its citizens. The PTI warned that militancy and extremism were witnessing an alarming resurgence in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other parts of the country due to government’s policies and priorities. “PTI strongly believes that the people’s voice cannot be suppressed by terrorism, state oppression, or the use of coercive force. Our democratic struggle for peace, justice, and fundamental rights will not only continue but will be pursued with renewed determination and even greater resolve,” it stated. On the other side, the PTI extended felicitations to the nation on Pakistan Air Force Day. It stated, “September 7 stands as a symbol of the unmatched bravery, sacrifice, and valour demonstrated by the Pakistan Air Force in the defence of our homeland. On this day, we pay tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.” _Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2025_

The PTI has terminated the basic party membership 11 legislators of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, including Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, alleging that they made a forward bloc and voted against the party decision, it emerged on Sunday. Most of the suspended legislators are also cabinet members. Apart from the CM, the identical termination notifices — dated September 5 and available with _Dawn.com_ — were issued to Abdul Hameed, Haji Shah Baig, Mushtaq Ahmad, Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi, Shamsul Haq Lone, Dilshad Bano, Raja Nasir Ali Khan Maqpoon, Surayya Zaman, Raja Azam Khan Amacha and Raja Fazal Rahim. The notices stated that the decision of memberships’ termination was effective immediately and in line with the PTI’s policy and procedures. “The reason for your termination is your actions in the GB Assembly, especially making a forward block and voting against the party decision, which is a clear violation of our party’s policy. Your actions have caused harm to the party’s interests and reputation,” the notices read. The lawmakers were also asked not to use the party’s “name, designation and/or membership in any manner or whatsoever, failing which the party reserves to take action against you which may also lead to legal action”. Moreover, the PTI also issued a show cause notice to former GB governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon. The show cause notice, also dated September 5 and available with _Dawn.com_ , said it had come to the PTI’s notice that Maqpoon had “conspired against the party and approached party members for defection”. “In view of these reported activities, you are hereby called to explain yourself in writing within two days of this notice. If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules,” it added. Gulbar Khan — a disgruntled member of the PTI who led a forward bloc in the party — had replaced party’s Khalid Khurshid as the GB chief minister in July 2023, after the latter was disqualified by the GB Chief Court for obtaining a licence from the GB Bar Council allegedly on the basis of a fake education degree. His disqualification had led several PTI lawmakers to switch sides and ultimately a coalition government, comprising PTI’s disgruntled members and PML-N and PPP lawmakers, was formed in the region, with Gulbar Khan as the CM. Prior to that, a _Dawn_ report had cited sources as saying that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in consultation with the PPP and had nominated Gulbar for the coveted role. Following Gulbar’s election, the PTI, through its Central Media Department, had issued a statement condemning the “robbery of public mandate in Gilgit-Baltistan in broad daylight”. Later, the PTI had issued show cause notices to 11 of its members for voting in favour of Gulbar Khan. Those served notices also included Gulbar Khan, Amjad Zaidi, Shams Lone, Abdul Hameed, Dilshad Bano, Haji Shah Baig, Surayya Zaman and Raja Fazal Rahim — all of whom were sent termination notices on Thursday.

GILGIT: The Vice Chairman of GB Awami Action Committee, Javed Iqbal, commonly known as Javed Naji, and a married woman were shot dead in the name of honour on Thursday in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Tangir area, the home constituency of Chief Minister Gulbar Khan. This was the second such honour killing incident in the Tangir district within a week According to FIR registered with Jaglot Police Station, Javed Iqbal, his wife and children were washing clothes on a river near their home when two men, Afsar Khan and Dar Khan, reached there and allegedly shot Javed Iqbal dead. The two accused, after killing Javed Iqbal, also killed a married woman in the name of honour. > HRCP denounces second such incident in Tangir area within a week In the same area on July 21, a man Bareem from Frori village, allegedly shot dead his wife, the mother of four children, and another man in the name of honour. The incident sparked protest over social media by rights and civil society activists. Local community leaders and activists of political parties also condemned these killings and called for immediate, transparent investigation into these incidents. They also demanded effective measures to prevent further honour-related killing in GB. In a statement issued here, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan strongly condemned the brutal ‘honour’ killing of Awami Action Committee vice chairman Javed Iqbal and a married woman in the area. > The HRCP said that Javed Iqbal was murdered in the presence of his mother and wife which also shows the barbarity of the act. “This marks the second such incident in Tangir within a week in which two women and two men were killed in the name of honour. “We demand an immediate and transparent investigation, swift prosecution of the perpetrators and urgent action to dismantle the culture of impunity surrounding honour-based violence in Gilgit-Baltistan,” the HRCP said. _Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2025_

enter image description here • CM Gulbar says region lacks funds to tackle flood damage • Seven districts affected; Diamer worst hit by daily flash floods • Villagers flee Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Layyah, Muzaffargarh as low-lying districts in Punjab submerged GILGIT / LAHORE / DERA GHAZI KHAN: Gilgit-Balti­stan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan on Saturday appe­aled to the federal government for Rs7 billion in emergency funds to deal with climate-induced disasters that have caused damages exceeding Rs20bn across the region. Speaking at a press conference at the CM House in Gilgit, the chief minister said the GB government lacks the financial capacity to handle the unprecedented disasters. CM Khan was accompanied by GB Home Minister Shams Lone, GB Assembly member Jamil Ahmed, Special Assi­stant on Infor­mation Eman Shah and Special Assistant on GB Disaster Management Auth­ority Muhammad Ali Quaid. He said unprecedented floods had impacted seven districts, with Diamer being the worst affected. “People in GB are facing daily flood events. At least one flood occurs every day,” he said. He said that so far, 10 fatalities and four injuries have been reported. Seven deaths were reported from Babusar, two from Thore Valley (Dia­mer) and another from Astore district. The chief minister said that 300 homes were destroyed, 200 were partially damaged, 40 water channels in 30 villages were swept away and 15 kilometres of roads, bridges, agricultural land, crops and public and private infrastructure were severely damaged. He noted that only Rs1bn was allocated in the GB budget for emergencies and that the local government is also burdened with Rs3bn in liabilities from past disaster rehabilitation efforts. “I appeal to the prime minister of Pakistan to immediately release at least Rs7bn to restore roads, electricity, water channels and to undertake other essential relief efforts,” the chief minister said and requested the premier to visit the region. He recalled that the federal government provided Rs3bn during the 2022 floods, but criticised the previous GB administration for misusing the funds, with the exception of a model village established for flood victims in Ghizer’s Bubor area. “This year’s disasters are beyond our resources. I urge the federal government to help the people of GB,” he added, while also appealing to non-governmental and international organisations for support. A formal request has been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said. Meanwhile, the Karakoram Highway, which was blocked at Chilas on Saturday, was reopened for traffic on Sunday. However, flash flood events continued to be reported across GB. In Fairy Meadows near Nanga Parbat, a flash flood swept away over 200 goats, sheep and surrounding greenery. Rescue 1122 reported multiple flash floods in the Shigar district on Saturday, affecting crops and infrastructure in Qaimabad Tisar, Chatron and Garam Chashma. Residents said flash floods disrupted road access, mobile networks and electricity. In Kondus village of Ghanche district, a devastating landslide destroyed over 50 homes. Survivors are in dire need of shelter, food, medical care and internet access. Flood-affected communities in Diamer and elsewhere are facing severe shortages of clean drinking water and essential supplies. **Punjab grapples with flooding** Meanwhile, thousands of residents across several districts in Punjab were displaced on Saturday as widespread flooding inundated low-lying areas. In some regions, such as Rojhan tehsil of Rajanpur, residents resorted to hiring private boats after failing to receive government assistance. Several villagers in Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan and Muzaffargarh also had to leave due to a medium-level flood. All their crops were damaged due to the flood, and their houses were also surrounded by water. The hundreds of people living in the catchment areas of the rivers Sindh and Chenab also had to migrate on their own, along with their cattle, struggling to find fodder and shelter. They protested the government’s lack of relief efforts. In Layyah, the third flood wave in the Indus River raised water levels to 450,000 cusecs. A protective embankment near the under-construction Taunsa Bridge collapsed, submerging adjacent villages and farmlands. Rescue machinery, including a multimillion-rupee excavator, was at risk of being lost. Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Chaudhry Ashfaq told _Dawn_ that the situation was under control and that the excavator would be recovered once the water receded. Relief camps have been set up in Karor tehsil of Layyah at several locations. Meanwhile, Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Com­missioner Usman Khalid said water levels were expected to remain stable by evening and noted that seven relief camps had been established in Taunsa. He confirmed that no mass evacuations had occurred yet. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb visited flood-hit areas in Pindi Bhattian and Hafizabad, where dozens of villages were submerged due to heavy rains. She met with residents, announced one-month rations for affected families and inspected medical and livestock camps. She said a survey had been conducted to assess flood damage and pledged to provide financial assistance in a transparent manner. Emergency measures have been implemented in affected areas, with residents advised to relocate from dilapidated structures. Earlier, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab issued flood warnings for the Chenab and Jhelum rivers and their tributaries, anticipating rising water levels from July 28 to 31. Punjab’s Relief Com­missioner Nabil Javed directed local officials and departments, including agriculture, irrigation, health, livestock and transport, to remain on high alert and ensure that emergency arrangements, including food, shelter and clean water, were in place. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia urged the public to follow safety advisories and cooperate with authorities during emergency evacuations. He assured that the government would provide full support to both people and their livestock. _Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2025_

F.P. Report PESHAWAR: A special committee led by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam visited Chilas and met with the jirga of Bhasha Dam affectees. Among others, Minister for Water Resources Mueen Wattoo, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, and Chairman WAPDA Sajjad Ghani were also present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, […]

GILGIT: Consequent upon a cabinet decision, the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department has notified reduced permit fees for mountaineers and trekkers. The revised fee structure, released after the 16th cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan on May 13, 2025, comes in response to growing criticism from tourism stakeholders over a September 2024 policy shift that had nearly tripled climbing permit costs. In September 2024, the department had abolished the previous group fee system—which applied to seven climbers—and introduced individual permits, nearly tripling costs. The move drew sharp criticism from the tourism industry. According to a notification issued by the department, the permit fee for K2 (8611m) has been reduced from the existing $5,000 to $3,500 per person for the summer season. In the autumn, it now stands at $2,000, down from $2,500. Winter expeditions to K2 will cost climbers $1,000, compared to the earlier $1,500. For other eight-thousanders such as Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, and Nanga Parbat, which fall within the 8001–8500m range, the revised fee is now $2,500 in summer, reduced from $4,000. The autumn fee is $1,800, and winter expeditions will cost $1,200 per climber. Climbers targeting peaks between 7501m and 8000m will benefit from a sharp reduction: summer fees are now set at $700 per person, down from $2,800. Autumn rates have dropped to $500, while winter expeditions will cost $400. For peaks in the 7001m to 7500m range, the summer fee is now $500, a drop from the earlier $2,000. Autumn and winter fees have been revised to $350 and $300 respectively. Meanwhile, climbers on peaks between 6501m and 7000m will pay $400 in summer, $300 in autumn, and $250 in winter. _G-B cabinet slashes mountaineering permit fees after backlash_ Even for trekking routes, the permit fee has been halved. The summer trekking fee is now $150, autumn $100, and winter just $75. #### Revised permit rates for Pakistani nationals The department has also revised permit fees for Pakistani nationals. For K2 (8611m), the fee remains unchanged at Rs 100,000 per person in summer, but has increased from Rs50,000 to Rs 60,000 in autumn, and is maintained at Rs30,000 in winter. For the 8001m to 8500m range, the summer fee stays at Rs50,000, while autumn now costs Rs 35,000—up from Rs25,000. The winter fee has been increased from Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. Peaks from 7501m to 8000m now carry a summer fee of Rs40,000, an increase from Rs30,000. The autumn and winter fees have also been revised to Rs20,000 and Rs15,000 respectively. For 7001m to 7500m peaks, the revised summer fee has doubled to Rs30,000, autumn is now Rs15,000, and winter Rs10,000—all reflecting increases from the previous structure. In the 6501m to 7000m category, summer fees have doubled to Rs20,000, autumn has also been updated to Rs10,000, and winter is now Rs10,000, up from Rs3,000. The trekking fee for Pakistani nationals has been increased across all seasons. It is now Rs15,000 in summer, Rs10,000 in autumn, and Rs5,000 in winter, reflecting a rise from the previous flat rate of Rs10,000. Tourism stakeholders welcomed the decision. While speaking to HUM News English, Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) Chairman Niaz Ahmed said they were satisfied that their "proposed and moderate" royalty fee demand had finally been accepted. He added that PATO has now withdrawn its petition filed in the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court against the previous fee hike, which had been negatively impacting adventure tourism. “We tried through every possible forum to persuade the government to reconsider the increased fees, as we were concerned about the upcoming adventure tourism season. Unfortunately, the G-B bureaucracy ignored our concerns and misinformed the government, which forced us to take legal action,” he said. Ahemd explained that once they approached the court, the G-B bureaucracy agreed to hold discussions with stakeholders. “After reaching a mutual understanding with the Tourism Department, the government delayed the cabinet meeting. We had called for an out-of-court settlement because the hike was not only hurting the adventure tourism industry but also reducing valuable dollar inflows into the country,” he added. He emphasised that the fee increase had significantly impacted the livelihoods of local porters who depend entirely on seasonal expeditions. However, he expressed relief that an agreement was finally reached and the fees were revised downward. “When the increased fees were first announced, many international adventurers canceled their expedition plans, as the cost had become nearly three times higher than before. With this rollback, we’re hopeful that the 2025 climbing season will see renewed enthusiasm and bookings. The damage has been done, but we will try to recover during the remainder of the season,” he said. When asked about the revised permit fees for Pakistani climbers, which in some cases have actually increased, the PATO Chairman said that during their meeting with the G-B Tourism Director, they were requested not to push too hard on the issue of local climbers' fees, as it would be addressed separately. “When I received the summary, I rejected it outright. I said it was unacceptable. What fault lies with Pakistani climbers? They deserve relief too. The fee for Pakistani climbers was increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 100,000 per person. I requested the authorities to reduce it to at least half,” he added. Ahmed said that during a discussion with the G-B Tourism Director, a verbal assurance was given that a separate summary would be moved to reduce the permit fee for local climbers. G-B Tourism Director Iqbal Hussain said that following the notification, five expedition and trekking groups have already applied for permits. When asked about the increase in permit fees for Pakistani nationals, he explained that the hike was implemented to help protect the environment. “Pakistani trekkers and mountaineers are generally less mindful of environmental concerns as compared to foreigners. That’s why, to reduce footfall on the mountains and minimize ecological impact, we increased the fee. Even so, the increase is not as high as it ideally should have been,” he added.

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and Minister for Information Technology Suraiya Zaman have become the latest target of a malicious fake video that has gone viral on social media. The video was uploaded on a fake Facebook account impersonating Noorima Rehan, the renowned singer from Hunza famous for her work in Coke Studio. Posted on April 20, the video garnered over 150,000 views before being taken down on Wednesday. The video features the chief minister along with Suraiya Zaman. The incident follows a similar case where singer Noorima Rehan herself was duped by such fake video. Also read: FBI warns against two fake videos as officials combat election disinformation Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Gilgit has launched an infestation into the matter. Talking to HUM News English, Sub-Inspector Syed Waqar Rizvi confirmed that two separate complaints have been filed on behalf of the chief minister and the IT minister. He said that investigations have been launched against the perpetrators. Waqar Rizvi mentioned that the FIA would write to Meta to request details about the fake account. "Hopefully, we will get the necessary details from Meta," he added.

Gilgit: The Gilgit-Baltistan Government is striving for the immediate activation of newly established 'additional districts' — Darel, Tangir, Rondu, and Gupis-Yasin — despite non-development expenditures accounting for approximately 70% of the total budget. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan recently chaired a high-level meeting in this regard. During the meeting, he ordered the immediate activation of the newly established administrative units to “enhance governance and service delivery in remote areas”. The CM instructed the senior member board of revenue (SMBR), secretary law, secretary home, and the police to expedite the delegation of administrative, district magistrate, and collector powers to the additional deputy commissioners (ADCs) and additional superintendents of police (ASPs) posted in these units. Gulbar Khan said these additional districts would ensure efficient governance, promote economic activities, and improve the quality of life by addressing public issues at their doorstep. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister (SACM) on Information Eman Shah said additional districts fall within the jurisdiction of a fully-fledged district, and ADCs possess all the powers of a deputy commissioner (DC). IHC moved against reappointment of G-B chief election commissioner Shah claimed that under the self-governance and empowerment ordinance, the chief minister has the authority to establish additional districts. However, if they were to be designated as full districts, permission would be required from the prime minister, who heads the G-B Council. When asked about the G-B’s development and non-development budget ratio of 30:70 and concerns that introducing new administrative units might exacerbate the financial situation, he responded that the region's finances rely on grants from the central government. In contrast, other provinces receive a share from the center, and it is up to the government to manage its finances accordingly. "You can call it non-development expenditure if we expand unnecessary bureaucratic spending. However, if establishing an additional district or tehsil ensures that a poor person or a widow can access their rights without traveling long distances, then I believe it is justified," he added. While addressing concerns that in other provinces, districts typically have much larger populations while in G-B, even small populations receive district status, the SACM explained that G-B’s population is scattered over a vast area. In contrast, towns in other provinces have densely populated areas where all residents of a tehsil live within a 4 to 6-square-kilometer area, minimising travel distances for administrative tasks. "For example, in G-B, Haramosh is located at the borderline of Gilgit and Skardu. Currently, a poor person must travel over 30 km to reach the tehsil office in Danyore for a minor task. In contrast, in Rawalpindi, people only need to travel about 3 km for similar work," he added. India weaponised AI to twist Jaffar Express attack facts: DG ISPR In a recent notification, the Gilgit-Baltistan government appointed ADCs in the newly established additional districts. According to the notification, Anayatullah has been posted as ADC Tangir, Sher Afzal as ADC Gupis-Yasin, Akram Khan as ADC Darel, and Ghulam Ali as ADC Rondu. In a conversation with _HUM News English_ , G-B former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman preferred full-fledged districts over additional districts, saying that the latter would burden the regional government as they are not approved by the center. “Gilgit-Baltistan is governed under the governance order, which recognizes only 10 districts. Until new districts are included in the Governance Order, you cannot receive federal support for additional districts,” he added. “Establishing new districts, providing them with resources, and reducing unnecessary expenditures are separate discussions. But these districts were notified during my tenure,” he said, supporting the establishment of full-fledged districts. He pointed out that Gilgit-Baltistan covers an area of 28,000 square miles, making it incomparable to other regions of the country. He explained that Gupis-Yasin alone is larger than Pindi Division and Lahore Division, with a scattered population that presents administrative challenges. Pakistan Crypto Council officially launched to shape future of digital finance “For that purpose, we proposed the concept of micro-districts. Nawaz Sharif approved the creation of Hunza, Nagar, Shigar, and Kharmang districts. When you compare the development in these districts today with that before 2014, you will see a revolution in infrastructure development. To monitor this progress, you need district administrations,” he claimed. The former CM said in new districts, it is not necessary to establish all government departments but only the most essential ones, such as Works and Communication, Health, and Education. "When you replace their luxury vehicles with regular cars, the expenditure would remain the same as it was with only 10 districts," he added. When questioned about the practicality of cutting down the luxuries of DCs, Hafeez asserted, “It is absolutely possible, and we had presented a complete vision for this during our tenure.” Advocate Ahsan Ali, Chairman of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) — an alliance of religious, political, and nationalist parties — criticised the introduction of new districts and divisions, saying that it serves the administration and government by tightening their control over the people rather than benefiting the general public. "The new districts are not a necessity for the people but a need for those in power." Discussing the breakdown of the current annual budget, he pointed out that out of the proposed Rs 140 billion budget, the government plans to acquire a Rs 20 billion loan, which seems not possible. "If we eliminate this Rs 20 billion loan, Rs 120 billion remains, out of which Rs 86.6 billion is allocated for non-development expenditures, and Rs 4 billion is spent on internal security. If we factor in corruption, commissions, and other irregularities, only Rs 10 billion is left for the annual development budget—and even that is misused," he added. He argued that under such financial constraints, the people are deprived of electricity, water, healthcare, and education because the government lacks the budget, and these issues are not part of its agenda. Cybercrime soars: 1.8M women victimised in Pakistan Ahsan alleged that the police are primarily deployed for the protection of bureaucrats, ministers, and advisors, while the lives, dignity, and wealth of the poor remain at risk. Similarly, he claimed, district administrations are being used to suppress the public rather than serve them. Taking a jab at what he called a "dummy" Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Ahsan accused its members of facilitating the neo-liberal agenda of the system. He asserted that the assembly members support the creation of new districts, tehsils, and police stations solely for political gains. "We say, keep only three districts, abolish all others, and redirect the saved budget toward public development," he concluded.

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan held a press conference today, announcing the newly approved Land Reforms Bill. The bill will now be presented to the assembly for final ratification. “Development work is underway in Gilgit-Baltistan,” CM Khan said, adding that the problems of the region have not been solved in the past. Thousands of Utility Stores Corp daily wagers sacked He said that land reforms have been a long-standing problem of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Previous governments have wasted time by forming committees, one after another, on this issue. “Land reforms have been approved by the cabinet for the first time. Before 1952, Gilgit-Baltistan's land belonged to _Khalsa Sarkar_. Now our government has given these lands to the public,” Gulbar Khan said. He added that all stakeholders are working together regarding law and order. “Due to the improvement in law and order, one million tourists visited Gilgit-Baltistan last year." He said that establishing law and order is the most important task, and coordination efforts are being carried out with the institutions for that. The GB chief minister added that the coalition government has done work that has never been done before. Anti-corruption dept arrests Lower Dir collector for financial fraud “Our coalition government has achieved many successes in one and a half years. Gilgit-Baltistan demands that we be given constitutional rights first,” Haji Gulbar Khan said. He urged the federal government to review the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and to ensure that GB is given its due NFC award share as soon as possible.

GILGIT: Federal Minister for Privatization, Board of Investment, and Communications, Aleem Khan, on Friday proposed the imposition of a toll tax on tourists visiting Gilgit-Baltistan. The minister made this proposal during a meeting with Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan in Islamabad. The discussion focused on the role of the National Highway Authority (NHA) in the region, the expansion of transport networks, and overall infrastructure improvement. Aleem Khan said a feasibility study worth Rs15 billion had been submitted to the Planning Commission for making the Jaglot-Skardu Road safer for travelers and tourists. He said the feasibility study recommends necessary measures to secure nine critical locations along the route. He assured that the approval of the feasibility study from Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) would be ensured at the earliest. https://humenglish.com/pakistan/gilgit-baltistan-named-among-worlds-best-places-to-visit-in-2025/ The federal minister assured that steps would be taken to ensure payments of compensation to affectees of the Karakoram Highway expansion project. Aleem Khan highlighted that Gilgit-Baltistan was prime attraction for tourism and emphasized that the development of Gilgit-Baltistan was vital for over overall prosperity of Pakistan. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to enhancing the region’s road network through the NHA. The minister noted that thousands of tourists visit Gilgit-Baltistan every year, significantly contributing to the local economy. In this regard, he proposed introducing a toll tax for tourists, saying that the revenue generated would be used to improve the region’s road infrastructure. However, he clarified that local residents of Gilgit-Baltistan would be exempt from the toll tax. On the occasion, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan appreciated the federal minister’s developmental initiatives and assured full cooperation between his government and the NHA to support the region’s progress.

GILGIT: Six-day long sit-in protest in Aliabad, Hunza, against 22-hour-long power outages ended on Wednesday evening as the federal government approved the provision of electricity to Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) through thermal power plants. According to a statement issued by a spokesperson for G-B Chief Minister (CM) Faizullah Faraq, the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah. G-B CM Haji Gulbar Khan, Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, Member of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Amjad Hussain Advocate, Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza, and former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman attended the meeting held in Islamabad. During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the severe power shortages in the region that exacerbate during the winters when water flow decreases, impacting hydropower generation. He urged the federal government to approve grants for operating diesel generators as a temporary solution to the crisis. The meeting agreed to supply electricity for 5-6 hours daily during January and February through diesel generators to most affected districts, including Hunza. Gulbar Khan said that transparency and effective monitoring in the provision of thermal power would be ensured through public and community participation. **Also Read:** First convoy of essential supplies reaches Parachinar Meanwhile, the ongoing protests in Aliabad came to an end as their basic demand of running thermal generators was met. Speaking to _HUM News English_ , Advocate Zahoor Elahi, a member of the core committee of the protest, confirmed the conclusion, stating, "The protest ended after successful negotiations during the fifth round." Earlier in the day, more people, including women and children from various areas of Hunza and other districts, joined the sit-in despite freezing temperatures. The sit-in caused significant disruptions, impacting both locals and travelers. Heavy traffic was brought to a halt, with an alternative route available only for light vehicles. The protest also disrupted trade, leaving over 600 trucks carrying goods imported from China via the Khunjerab Pass stranded at the site.