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GILGIT: The two major roads connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to other parts of the country were reopened for traffic on Friday after days of blockade due to snowfall and landslides, an official told Dawn.
Life in the region started returning to normalcy after the reopening of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) Baltistan Road and other link roads. Agricultural activities in the region have also resumed on the eve of spring.
Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) Director General Safdar Khan told Dawn that KKH had been opened for one-way traffic after it was cleared near the Diamer Basha Dam area. The work is underway to clear the road for two-way traffic.
The Baltistan Road has been opened for all kinds of traffic on both sides, according to GBDMA.
The region’s air connectivity with other parts of the country has also been established as Pakistan International Airlines resumed flights to Islamabad from Gilgit and Skardu.
According to Mr Khan, all link roads in remote areas of the region have also been cleared for traffic after removing debris and snow.
The official expressed apprehension that snowfall in hilly areas still posed a threat of snow avalanches.
The locals have also started preparation for spring in southern parts of the region, with local farmers sowing seeds and ploughing fields.
The clearance of irrigation channels of snow has been initiated.
Gulbar meets KP CM
Separately, GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan met the caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Arshad Hussain, in Peshawar on Thursday, according to a statement issued by GB CM Secretariat.
The two chief ministers discussed difficulties faced by the passengers due to road closure during the snowfall.
The KP caretaker chief minister directed the commissioner of Hazara division, bordering GB, to take immediate steps and solve the problems faced by passengers entering KP.
CM Gulbar meets caretaker KP chief minister
CM Khan also met PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur and expressed condolences over the demise of his father.
GB Interior Minister Shams Lone and Member of Assembly Fathullah Khan were also present on the occasion.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2024
