GILGIT Baltistan is in the process of getting converted into a jungle where humans are finding it difficult to live. Sectarian violence has gripped the foundations of Gilgit and has put a dent on its social, educational and economic fabric. An air of fear prevails in the vibes of the  entire region. Killing in the name of sect has become a tradition in every nook and cranny.

The Gilgit city has been polarised into different poles where men from other sects are welcomed with a barrage of bullets.

Educational institutions have literally come to a halt with no advanced version of knowledge.

Even the mainstream newspapers printed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi reach Gilgit one day after publication, a reflection of sheer backwardness.

In this winter season the frigid climate has already put a new strain on the lives of people.

But the members of our assembly still have not left their cushy lifestyles.

They are least bothered about miseries and sufferings of the common man.

REHAN KHAN GILGITI Islamabad

Opinion

Editorial

On press freedoms
Updated 03 May, 2026

On press freedoms

THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their...
Inflation strain
03 May, 2026

Inflation strain

PAKISTAN’S return to double-digit inflation after 21 months signals renewed economic strain where external shocks...
Troubled waters
03 May, 2026

Troubled waters

PAKISTAN’S water crisis is often framed in terms of scarcity. Increasingly, it is also a crisis of contamination....
Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...