Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam on Monday said all legal requirements for imposing governor’s rule in…

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See detailed quake info, read user reports, submit your own if you felt it!

See detailed quake info, read user reports, submit your own if you felt it!

GILGIT: A Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts (GBS) soldier and two police personnel were injured in a gun attack on their vehicle near Sher Nallah at Karakoram Highway (KKH) Bash­idas Zero Point in the Chilas area of Diamer district late Sunday evening. GBS is a federal paramilitary force responsible for security, border protection and supporting civil administration across the region. According to a statement issued by the chief minister secretariat, a patrol vehicle of the 116 GBS wing came under fire from the mountain side near Sher Nallah. A GBS soldier and two SSU policemen, who sustained injuries in the attack, were rushed to the Bashidas FWO Hospital where they were given medical treatment before being referred to the RHQ Hospital in Chilas. **CM orders investigation, arrest** Seeking investigation report of the shooting, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to immediately track down and arrest attackers, planners, and facilitators using all available resources. Stating that attacks on security personnel challenge state authority and would not be tolerated, he ordered strengthened security, surveillance, and search operations in Bashidas, Sher Nallah, and surrounding areas. He also instructed the Diamer authorities to ensure provision of the best medical care to them. No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack. _Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026_

ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima has said that 5.8 million people have registered under the government’s Fuel Relief Scheme, while 6.1 million tokens have been issued so far. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Shaza Fatima said people from across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, were benefiting […] The post 5.8m people register for Pakistan’s fuel relief scheme: Shaza Fatima appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Nearest BISP Tehsil Office Locator – Find Your Office in Pakistan (2026)Pakistan has 481 BISP Tehsil Offices covering every province, AJK, and Gilg

• Scheme to benefit 43,200 households across region • Energy master plan unveiled to address power deficit GILGIT: The Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government, Euro­pean Union (EU) and Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) on Tuesday launched a €54.24 million (Rs17.2 billion) project to strengthen climate resilience and improve living conditions across the region. The Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Devel­opment and Climate Resilience (GBRDCR) project, supported through AFD financing, an EU grant, AKF funding and community contributions, will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, basic services, renewable energy and institutional development. The agreement was signed at the GB Chief Minister’s Secretariat by Additional Chief Secretary Riaz Ahmed, AFD Country Director Marc-Antoine Leclercq and AKF CEO Akhtar Iqbal. CM Amjad Hussain, EU Ambas­sador to Pakistan Raimundas Karo­blis, Senior Minister Mohammad Ali Akhtar and Local Government Minister Zulfiqar Ali Murad also attended the ceremony. The initiative will cover all districts of GB and include 216 water and sanitation schemes, which include 117 drinking-water supply schemes and 30 sanitation projects. Hydropower initiatives are exp­e­c­ted to generate 1,200-1,300kW of cle­an energy. The project will also conduct vulnerability assessments acr­oss all 110 union councils, green-retrofit 3,000 households and support energy-efficient, resilient construction for another 700 households. Training will be provided in climate-smart planning, enterprise development and sustainable infrastructure management. The project is expected to reach around 43,200 households, or 325,600 people, with women accounting for at least 40 per cent of beneficiaries. **Community participation** GB Chief Minister Amjad Hus­sain, addressing the ceremony, said the project would be an important milestone for sustainable development and protecting communities from the effects of climate change. **Energy master plan** During the event, Northern Pakistan Energy Limited (NPak Energy) presented key findings of the Gilgit-Baltistan Energy Master Plan, a 30-year roadmap developed under the EU-funded €31m (Rs9.8bn) Energy Plus project. The plan seeks to establish a reliable, affordable and climate-resilient energy system while addressing the region’s power deficit and exploi­ting its renewable-energy potential. EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis described the launch as a significant step towards a sustainable and resilient future for GB. AFD Country Director Marc-Antoine Leclercq said the project would improve basic services and strengthen the GB government’s institutional capacity to implement community-driven development, particularly in remote areas. _Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026_

• Proposal for entry to Hunza, Nagar discussed at SIFC •One-window NOC portal to streamline clearance at Sost • Final rollout pending clearance from higher authorities GILGIT: Pakistan is considering special visa-on-arrival arrangements for Chinese tourists travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan through the Khunjerab Pass, with officials proposing a pilot programme initially covering Hunza and Nagar districts to promote cross-border tourism and economic activity. The proposal was discussed during a high-level meeting titled “Restora­t­i­­on of Visa Facility on Arri­val at Sost for Chinese Tou­rists” held at the Special In­­­vestment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad on Sept 15. The session, chaired by the joint secretary for SW-B at the SIFC, brought together officials from the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) home and tourism departments, the Pakistan Tourism De­­v­elopment Corporation, the ministries of inter-provincial coordination, interior and foreign affairs, Pakis­t­­an Association of Tour Ope­­rators (Pato) and Green Tourism Pakistan Limited. According to the meeting minutes, the foreign affairs ministry expressed no objection in principle to the proposal, subject to security clearance. The interior ministry, however, noted that visa-on-arrival access had been suspended for all countr­i­­es after security concerns prompted a policy change at the highest level, and said any exception for Chi­nese nationals would need approval at the same level. Delegates from the Fed­e­­­ration of Pakistan Cham­bers of Commerce and Ind­ustry (FPCCI) argued that expanding Chinese tourism could boost foreign ex­­c­­hange earnings, create jobs and stimulate local economies, at a time when Pakistan is seeking greater foreign investment. Officials and stakeholders from GB proposed that a special or trial arrangement for Chinese tourists could be considered. They said tourism underpinned livelihoods across the region and that a downturn in visitor numbers, driven by wider global instability, had hit local businesses hard. Officials pointed to Hunza-Nagar’s existing tourism infrastructure and said no significant security threat had been identified along the proposed route. The GB government expressed willingness to provide security arrangements for tourists. Raja Nazimul Amin, adviser to the president on international trade and tourism investment at FPCCI, who attended the meeting, told _Dawn_ that all relevant stakeholders had agreed to special arrangements for on-arrival visas for Chinese tourists travelling through the Khunj­erab Pass in phases. “Initially, it has been proposed that the visa on arrival will be given to Chinese tourists up to Hunza and Nagar districts under phase one,” Amin said. “If the trial basis remains successful, then it would be extended to the whole of Gilgit-Baltistan in phase two.” Mr Amin said the plan could generate billions of dollars in economic activity. He said the recommendations would be forwar­d­­ed to Prime Minister She­hbaz Sharif for appro­val, which he expected to be granted. Meanwhile, the Minis­try of Inter-Provincial Coordi­nation (MOIPC) called for the visa process to be stre­amlined, proposing a single online portal for no-objection certificates (NOCs). The GB Home Depart­m­ent, which currently issues NOCs through a multi-step police clearance process, agreed to explore a more efficient one-window system at Sost. The SIFC has asked the GB government to submit a detailed proposal. The plan will then go to MOIPC, before being referred to the interior and foreign ministries for concurrence and passed to higher authorities for a final decision. _Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026_

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the intertwined cultural, historical, and geopolitical landscape of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) – two regions separated by the Line of Control (LoC...

Meha Dixit and Saranjam Baig eds. Territory and Turmoil: Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan – Routledge, September 2026 This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the intertwined cultural, historical, and geopolitical landscape of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) – two regions separated by … Continue reading →

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government on Tue­s­day presented a three-month delayed budget of Rs218.845 billion for fiscal year 2026-27, with a deficit of over Rs52bn, seeking additional funds from the federal government to meet various liabilities. It may be mentioned here that in July, the GB government had presen­ted a Rs20.478bn interim budget for the first quarter of FY27 and announced that the full-year budget would be presented after three months. Senior Minister Moham­mad Ali Akhtar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the budget in the GB Assembly on Tuesday, presided over by Speaker Imran Nadeem. He told the house that the elected government had assumed office at the end of June 2026. “Since only a very limited amount of time was available bet­w­een the end of the financial year and the beginning of the new financial year, the government had to ensure continuity of governmental affairs and the timely provision of essential expenditures.” Therefore, he said, a three-month interim budget for the initial three months of FY27 was presented on the basis of the previous financial year. “At that time, our government clearly preferred to take the necessary time rather than present a full-year budget, so that the annual budget would not merely be a collection of figures, but could truly reflect the genuine needs, priorities and aspirations of the people,” he added. Mr Akhtar said the budget was, placing special emphasis on education, health, basic infrastructure and the welfare of the underprivileged segment of society. He said the total budget was estimated at approximately Rs218.845bn, with Rs43.97bn allocated for development and Rs149.87bn for non-development expenditure. He said the volume of the GB budget reached Rs218bn when the federal government’s stabilisation package was included. He said tax revenues were targeted at Rs16.98bn, while efforts were under way to secure the required funds from the federal government to meet the budget deficit of Rs52.65bn. He said the size of ADP had been increased from Rs22bn to Rs23bn, while the amount allocated under the federal PSDP had been increased from Rs15bn to Rs20.973bn, including Rs4bn under PM’s package. The minister said the wheat subsidy fund that had been reduced to Rs15bn was raised to Rs22bn. The estimated revenue from wheat sale was Rs3bn, he added. He said GB had requested a special stabilisation package of around Rs153.30bn from the federal government for economic and administrative stability. “Under this package, targets have been set for the stability of local governments, law and order, education, health, tourism, compensation for flood losses, municipal services, food supply, e-governance, tourism, agriculture, climate change, institutional capacity building, and clearing various liabilities,” he said. The minister said the minimum wage for employees in all government and non-government institutions had been raised from Rs40,000 to Rs44,000. He said Rs63.57bn had been allocated for salaries, while Rs1.048bn had been set aside for education. “For the first time in history, Rs1bn has been allocated for social protection, and a proposal has been made to establish a Rs4bn endowment fund for the social sector,” he added. Mr Akhtar said climate funds were previously earmarked within development projects, but in practice, no actual deductions were being made for this purpose. For the first time, one per cent of development funds would be diverted to a consolidated account, he added. In light of climate change concerns, the GB government had decided to procure hybrid vehicles for government departments and auction off older vehicles that con­sumed excessive fuel, he said. The minister also ann­ounced that the non-development budgets of all departments were being reduced by 30pc. He said substantial funds had been allocated for improving the health, education and agriculture sectors. These included an increase of Rs170m for the procurement of medicines, and the establishment of a health endowment fund. He said Rs50m had been allocated for water management to promote the agriculture sector and Rs50m for agriculture sector reform initiatives. “Rs50m for loans for youth, Rs50m for local bodies elections and Rs50m for renovation of local bodies offices have been allocated. Rs78m has been allocated for water and power department and Rs18m for tourism department,” he said. For development projects in 10 districts, Rs5.034bn has been allocated. Earlier, a GB cabinet meeting approved the budget. _Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2026_

Bodies swept by the Suru River across the Line of Control into Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan often remain beyond the reach of bereaved Ladakhi families. Without a humanitarian exchange point,...