Beyond One Protector: The Case for Widening the Mecca Pact (10/8/2026) - By Syed Tajammul Abbas Common people do not read treaties when bombs are falling. A storekeeper closes his store; a mother looks for and counts her children in a shelter; a doctor and nurse care for their patients on the night shift: everyone asks one question: when will help arrive? The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, …
AKF, EU and GB Govt Launch Rs17.2bn Climate Resilience Project, Unveil 30-Year Energy Plan (10/2/2026) - GILGIT: The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union, and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) launched the “Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Development and Climate Resilience” project today, marking a significant step towards enhancing climate resilience and improving the quality of life across all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The EUR 54.24 million (PKR 17.2 …
The Trout Our Fathers Caught, Our Children May Never See (9/26/2026) - By Muhammad Hussain By a local fish hunter of the place Rattu in the valley of Astore who is a license holder, Muhammad Hussain. Research Scholar in climate change, with a Bachelor’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies. I got my fishing license when I was in 8th grade. I have been a fisher since …
Grandma Was Right: Why Time Moves So Fast Now (9/19/2026) - Kishwar Jahan Remember when you were a kid, and waiting for a Friday felt like it took forever, while a single month felt like a year and summer vacations lasted endlessly? I was recently talking to my grandmother, and she shared how it used to be back in her day days felt long, weeks felt …
PTA Survey Highlights Telecom Gaps in Gilgit-Baltistan (9/19/2026) - GILGIT: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified continuing telecom and digital connectivity challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan in its Quality of Service (QoS) survey for April–June 2026. PTA teams conducted around 4,100 voice and SMS tests and 3,960 broadband tests across six high-altitude sites in AJ&K and GB. The survey identified unserved and underserved areas, while …
At Tashkurgan, a Viral Video Exposes the Fault Lines in Khunjerab Border Trade (9/18/2026) - By Ghulam Amin Beg A viral video from the bus station in Tashkurgan, the Chinese border town on the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, has again highlighted long-standing frictions in the everyday management of the China-Pakistan frontier. The footage shows Chinese officers taking a firm approach with a group of young Pakistani men. Local accounts allege the …
EU, AKF and NPAK Energy Strengthen Hunza’s Power Network and Unlock Local Renewable Energy Potential (9/25/2026) - Hunza: The European Union (EU), Aga Khan Foundation and NPAK Energy marked major progress in strengthening electricity services in Hunza, with the commissioning of the first phase of a major electricity loss-reduction programme and the groundbreaking of the rehabilitation of the 3 MW Misgar Hydropower Plant. The initiatives are being implemented under the Energy Plus …
Centre for Green Innovation formally inaugurated in Gilgit to advance green entrepreneurship and locally driven innovation (9/24/2026) - Gilgit: . Accelerate Prosperity, in partnership with Karakoram International University, has formally inaugurated the Centre for Green Innovation (CGI) in Gilgit, marking an important milestone in strengthening the ecosystem for green innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable enterprise in Gilgit-Baltistan. Funded by the European Union, the Centre serves as a dedicated space to support entrepreneurs, young innovators …
Reporting Under Threat: Intimidation and Violence Against Journalists in Gilgit-Baltistan. (9/19/2026) - Mubarak Hussain Azad was at the Press Club when word came that a crowd had gathered at Yadgar Chowk in Gilgit. It was 1st Muharram, 2023, and a religious clash was unfolding in real time a few minutes away. He grabbed his camera and went. What he found was not a protest he could stand …