ISLAMABAD: The development and prosperity of Gilgit Baltistan were the top priority of the Federal Government and in this regard, various projects of development had been launched for the promotion of the tourism sector, health facilities, improvement in the education sector and mitigate the pressure of unemployment in this area.
An official source told media that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recently announced a series of mega development projects for the development of the remote areas of the GB.He said the incumbent regime also focused on developing the road network and connectivity of slum areas with each other to facilitate the local community.
The local government also upgrading the basic health units in the far-flung areas of the GB, he said.He underlined that tourism is a lucrative business of the local community and in this regard, GB government provides training facilities to the youth of the area.
Tourism is the best source of income for the local population, as millions of tourists visit this area every year.He commended the federal government’s efforts in promoting tourism and emphasized the need for its enhancement.
He proposed the establishment of camping sites and tourism facilitation centers across all provinces aimed at facilitating tourists and promoting local attractions.Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of extensive promotion of the Salam Pakistan portal, a dedicated platform designed to guide and assist tourists visiting Pakistan.He stressed the significance of leveraging technology to provide seamless experiences for travellers.
Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan has been included in a list of the top 25 destinations worth visiting in 2025, curated by CNN.Thousands of tourists and foreign climbers visit the region annually for expeditions on various peaks, paragliding and other activities.
In the list published on Wednesday, CNN Travel wrote, “The Gilgit-Baltistan region in the Karakoram Mountains isn’t the easiest place to get to — flight schedules can be unreliable, roads can be blocked off seasonally — but it has more tantalising peaks than a lemon meringue pie.
“It’s home to five of the 14 eight-thousander peaks [i.e. mountains towering above 8,000 metres above sea level] recognised as the world’s highest. That includes K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain but No. 1 in terms of difficulty and danger,” the broadcaster said.
CNN Travel added that hiking in GB “makes the Himalayas look like a traipse in Central Park” but added that travelling alone is “not an option”, noting that Nepal also banned solo hiking throughout that country last year.
Gilgit-Baltistan is a popular tourism destination known for some of the highest peaks, glaciers, pastures, lakes, meadows and its unique landscapes.Despite road and communication issues, thousands of international and local tourists visit the region to enjoy the landscapes every year.
According to GB tourism officials, 2,100 foreign adventurers among climbers visited the region in 2023 to scale peaks such as K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II and Broad Peak after obtaining permits in the summer season. The number rose to 2,380 in 2024.
