Previously known to the outer world as the Northern Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan is now an autonomous region after the promulgation of Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009 on 9th September, 2009.<\/p>\n
Under the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009 ‘Signed by President Asif Ali Zardari on September 7, 2009– the identity of the region was restored by changing the name from ‘Northern Areas’ to ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’. As part of its administrative and legislative decentralization, the offices of Governor, Chief Minister, and Ministers have been created.<\/p>\n
Facts<\/span><\/b> 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.<\/p>\n In 1947 when British rule came to an end\u00a0 and this beautiful region was briefly handed back to the maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, it came under Pakistani control.<\/p>\n Geography<\/span><\/b> Districts<\/span><\/b> \u00c2\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mountains<\/span><\/b> \u00c2\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lakes & Glaciers<\/span><\/b> The Siachen Glacier is 75 km. long. The Hispar (53 km) joins the Biafo at the Hispar La (5154.16 meters or 16,910 ft) to form an ice corridor 116.87 km (72 mi) long. The Batura, too, is 58 km in length. The most outstanding of these rivers of ice is the 62 km Baltoro. This large glacier, fed by some 30 tributaries, has a surface area of 1291.39 sq km.<\/p>\n Batura Glacier is one of the largest and longest glaciers outside the polar regions.<\/p>\n The Baltoro Glacier gives rise to the Shigar River, which is a tributary of the Indus River.<\/p>\n The Biafo Glacier is the world’s third longest glacier outside of the polar regions, second only to the 70 km (43 mi) Siachen Glacier disputed between Pakistan and India and Tajikistan’s 77 km (48 mi) long Fedchenko Glacier.<\/p>\n Lakes<\/span><\/b> Plains<\/span><\/b> Facts<\/span><\/b> Did You Know?<\/span><\/b> Minerals<\/span><\/b> Rivers<\/span><\/b> Mountain Passes<\/span><\/b> Dams (Under Construction and Proposed)<\/b> Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Bunji Dam, Satpara Dam<\/p>\n Major Casts<\/span><\/b> Did You Know?<\/span><\/b> Languages<\/span><\/b> Political System<\/span><\/b> Legislature<\/span><\/b> Gilgit-Baltistan Council\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b> Places to Visit<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n District Astore<\/b> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gilgit Baltistan is the most spectacular and fascinating region of Pakistan. in terms of its geography and scenic beauty. World’s three mightiest mountain range ‘the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas’ meet here. Previously known to the outer world as the Northern Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan is now an autonomous region after the promulgation of Gilgit-Baltistan …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7661,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9142"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/151"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9142\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jworldtimes.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nGilgit-Baltistan is NOT the 5th province of Pakistan.
\nIt was formerly known as the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA).
\nGilgit\u00e2\u20ac\u201cBaltistan was established as a single administrative unit in 1970.
\nGilgit\u00e2\u20ac\u201cBaltistan was formed by the amalgamation of the Gilgit Agency, the Baltistan, and the former princely states of Hunza and Nagar.
\nAccording to Pakistan’s constitution, Gilgit-Baltistan and its inhabitants have never had any representation in Pakistan’s parliament.
\n
\nHistory<\/span><\/b>
\nThe 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 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 Jammu and Kashmir under the tutelage of the British Crown.<\/p>\n
\nGilgit-Baltistan is home to one of the most diverse sociocultural geography in the world. It has rightly been called the Roof of the World, the Wonderland of Asia and the Jewel of Pakistan. The GB region covers an area of 72,971 km\u00c2\u00b2 (28,174 km\u00c2\u00b2).<\/p>\n
\nThe territory of Gilgit-Baltistan consists of seven districts. Their detail is as follows:<\/p>\n
\nGilgit\u00e2\u20ac\u201cBaltistan is home to five of the “eight-thousanders” and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres. Gilgit and Skardu are the two main hubs for expeditions to those mountains.<\/p>\n
\nThree of the world’s seven longest glaciers outside the Polar Regions are located in Gilgit-Baltistan– the Biafo Glacier, the Baltoro Glacier, and the Batura Glacier.<\/p>\n
\nThere are, in addition, several high-altitude lakes in Gilgit’ Baltistan: Sheosar Lake in the Deosai Plains, Skardu
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Satpara Tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Katzura Tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zharba Tso Lake in Shigar, Baltistan
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phoroq Tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lake Kharfak in Gangche, Baltistan
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Byarsa Tso Lake in Gultari, Baltistan
\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Borith Lake in Gojal, upper Hunza, Gilgit
\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rama Lake near Astore
\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rush Lake near Nagar, Gilgit
\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kromber Lake at Kromber Pass Ishkoman Valley, Ghizer District
\n11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Barodaroksh lake in Bar Valley, Nagar
\n12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Khalti Lake Ghizer District<\/p>\n
\nDeosai Plains is located above the tree line; the second highest plains of the world at 4,115 m (13,500 feet) are in the South of Skardu and in the East of the Astore Valley. The area was declared as a National Park in 1993. The Deosai Plains cover an area of almost 3,000 square kilometers. The plains remain snow-bound for good about six months from November to May.<\/p>\n
\nAttabad Lake, also known as Gojal Lake, was created in January 2010 by a landslide dam. The landslide killed twenty people and blocked the flow of the Hunza River for five months.<\/p>\n
\nThe Deosai Plains, are located above the tree line and constitute the second-highest plateau in the world at 4,115 meters (14,500 feet)after Tibet. The plateau lies east of Astore, south of Skardu and west of Ladakh.<\/p>\n
\nThis area is blessed with unlimited and heavy deposits of precious and semi-precious stones and 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 and semi-precious stones located in Pakistan are found in Gilgit Baltistan.<\/p>\n
\nKhunjerab River – flows south along the Karakoram Highway from the Khunjerab Valley
\nNagar River – flows further south and enters the Gilgit River by touching Hunza River to Gilgit
\nHunza River – flows further south and enters the Gilgit River just to the northeast of Gilgit town.
\nGilgit River – enters the Gilgit District from the west, south of the Bichhar Pass (Naltar Valley), and flows west through Gilgit town.
\nIndus River – enters the Gilgit District from the Skardu District about six kilometers north of Jaglot, where the Indus River is joined by the Gilgit River. From there, the Indus flows south along the Karakoram Highway.
\nSome other rivers are Ghujerab River, Shimshal River, Hispar River, Naltar River, Shyok River, Hushe River, and Thalle River.<\/p>\n
\nKhunjerab Pass, Mintika Pass, Kilik Pass, Chillingi Pass, Shimshal Pass, Ghujerab Pass, Chapchingal Pass, Chaprot Pass, Naltar Pass, Talmutz Pass, Hayal Pass and Naltar Pass, Bichhar Pass,<\/p>\n
\nThe ethnic groups include Shins, Yashkuns, Kashmiris, Kashgaris, Pathans, and Kohistanis. The population of Gilgit-Baltistan is Muslim.<\/p>\n
\nThe majority of the people in Gilgit-Baltistan are Shia with a significant Sunni minority. The Ismailis and Sufia Nurbakhshia are also present in Gilgit’ Baltistan. The Gilgit Division has about 50% each of Shia and Sunni whereas in the Baltistan Division, Shia number about 90% of the population.<\/p>\n
\nUrdu is the lingua franca of the region. The Shina language, with dialects including Asturjaa, Kharuchaa and Chilasi, is the majority language here, spoken mainly in Gilgit, Astore, throughout Diamer, and in some parts of Ghizer and Baltistan region. The Balti dialect, a sub-dialect of Ladakhi and part of the Tibetan language group, is spoken by the entire population of Baltistan. Minor languages spoken in the region include Wakhi, spoken in upper Hunza, and in some villages in Ghizer, while Khowar is the language of Ghizer. Burushaski is an isolated language spoken in the Hunza, Nagar, Yasin in some parts of Gilgit, and in some villages of Punial. Some people also speak Pashto.<\/p>\n
\nOn the pattern of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Council, a Gilgit-Baltistan Council headed by the Prime Minister has been introduced. The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly is delegated with the powers of approving budget. The concept of a Consolidated Fund has been introduced and legislative powers of the Assembly have been increased from 49 to 61 subjects, along with powers to legislate on the other subjects not in the domain of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council.<\/p>\n
\nThe Gilgit\u00e2\u20ac\u201cBaltistan Legislative Assembly is a 33-seat unicameral legislative body that was formed as part of the Gilgit\u00e2\u20ac\u201cBaltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009. The GBLA has twenty-four (24) directly-elected members, six women and three technocrats’. It has the powers to make laws on sixty-one subjects.
\n
\nJudiciary<\/span><\/b>
\nThe Gilgit’ Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009 says that the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court would be appointed by the Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council on the advice of the Governor. Other Judges shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council on the advice of Governor after seeking views of the Chief Judge. It also says that the number of Judges would be increased from three to five.<\/p>\n
\n(1) \u00a0 \u00a0 Gilgit-Baltistan Council consisting of
\n(a) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Prime Minister of Pakistan;
\n(b) \u00a0 \u00a0 The Governor;
\n( c) \u00a0 \u00a0Six members nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from time to time from amongst Federal Ministers and members of Parliament:
\nProvided that the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan shall be an ex officio member and Minister Incharge of the Council:
\n(d)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan;
\n(e) \u00a0 \u00a0Six members to be elected by the Assembly in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transfer able vote.
\n(2)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the Chairman of the Council.
\n(3)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The Governor is the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
\n(4)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Minister of State for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is an ex officio non-voting member of the Council.<\/p>\n
\nSome prominent valleys in Astore are Rama, Gorikot, Rehmanpur, Rattu. Bunji, Dashkin and Chilim. Of particular note in the District are Parbat (Rupal Face) and Rama Lake.
\nDiamer District<\/b>
\nSome important places here are Tangir, Darel, Chiias, Bunar Das, Gonar Farm and Raikot. Moreover, Nanga Parbat, Raikot Face and Fairy Meadows also bewitch the visitor.
\nGilgit District<\/b>
\nNaltar is picturesque grassland surrounded by high peaks with accessible glacial lakes. Near to Gilgit there is the Kargah Buddha, a rock-wall carved Buddha dating back to the 8th century AD.
\nGhizer District<\/b>
\nThe most beautiful place here is Punial that is a former kingdom and Sherqilla. The Ishkoman valley is another beautiful region in Ghizer. Another attraction here is Shandur Pass that is famous for its annual polo tournament and gala.
\nHunza \/Nagar District<\/b>
\nThis district comprises the valleys of Hunza and Nagar. Of particular interest in this district is the Balti Fort, a 700-year-old building, made of mud, rocks and wood.\u00a0 In the Upper Hunza or Gojal area, the high mountain of Khunjerab captivates the beholders by its beauty and might.
\nSkardu District<\/b>
\nThe places of particular interest in Skardu are Khorpocho Fort, Manthal Rock (Buddhist carving), Sadpara and Kachura Lakes and the Shigar valley.
\nGhanche District<\/b>
\nKhaplu Palace and Chaqchan Mosque are the interesting places to visit in Ghanche. Another attraction is the Ghondoghoro Pass at 5,650 m.<\/p>\n