WITH sacrifices and the struggle by their own people, the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan) got independence and became part of Pakistan on Nov 1, 1947, but never got its identity or rights as a province of Pakistan.

The Reforms Package for Gilgit-Baltistan is like a dream come true and is a new path towards prosperity. It is a matter of celebration for its people that they are going to have their own governor and chief minister.

But the struggle is still not over because Gilgit-Baltistan will get a status similar to 'a province' but not a province.

The political status of Gilgit-Baltistan has always suffered, being depicted as a part of Kashmir. Issues like this and that of other social and economical issues would now be easily brought into light in front of the newly-formed committee headed by the prime minister to show positive results.

ASIYA GILGITY
Nairobi

(II)

THE government has unanimously approved a reform package to give Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) the rights of a province without declaring it a province. This new order will replace 1994's LFO and, it is said, will ensure the fundamental rights of the people of GB

The creation of Northern Areas in the 1970s was schemed out by Z.A. Bhutto, and with this the FCR was removed. This then led to the merging of the states in the region, including the seven districts.

The Northern Areas was linked to Kashmir in the UN resolution so that votes could be reserved for an opinion poll that could arise in the future to settle the Kashmir dispute.

The Gilgit-Baltistan region has had no link with Kashmir and still suffers from no representation in the National Assembly.

The GB people cannot reach out to the Supreme Court of Pakistan even after this new order. One major advantage from this new order will be that local and international media will not hopefully refer to Gilgit-Baltistan as Northern Areas.

The words 'Northern Areas' have been used by the media to refer to the Taliban-affected areas and this has led to a decline in foreign tourists over the past few years to the Gilgit-Baltistan region where tourism is a major contributor to the economy.

The present government has not bothered to include any true representatives while drafting this new constitutional reform. What should be considered is whether the people of Gilgit-Baltistan will ever get their true fundamental rights.

M. WAJAHAT KHAN
Islamabad