Pakistan’s remote, neglected mountainous region goes to the polls

Locals participate in a campaign ahead of the legislative assembly elections in Sherqilla, Gilgit Baltistan on Nov. 10, 2020. (REUTERS)
Short Url
Updated 15 November 2020
Follow

Pakistan’s remote, neglected mountainous region goes to the polls

  • Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly was created in 2009 and has few powers, region largely governed directly by Islamabad
  • This month PM Khan said he would provide provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, giving it greater political representation

GILGIT: Voters in Pakistan’s mountainous far north went to the polls on Sunday in an election that has turned the attention of the federal government and major political parties upon an otherwise neglected region facing decades of disenfranchisement.

Since shortly after independence in 1947, Gilgit-Baltistan has not officially been part of Pakistan, but forms part of the portion of disputed Kashmir that Pakistan controls. Both Delhi and Islamabad have claimed all of Kashmir since gaining independence 73 years ago, and have fought two wars over the territory.

The region is Pakistan’s only land link to China and is at the heart of the $65 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development plan.

For the last few weeks, campaigning has been on in full swing in the area, with candidates from Pakistan's major political parties promising to build infrastructure projects and end decades of neglect.

The Gilgit-Baltistan legislature has 33 seats — 24 general seats, six reserved for women and three for technocrats. But despite the quota, only four women will be competing. Some 330 contenders are vying for ballots of about 745,000 voters.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won the 2015 election in the region and ruled for five years. It hopes to win again, and Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of the party’s founder, and head has furiously campaigned in the area for the last several days. 

Senior PML-N leader and former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman said his party had "left no stone unturned" to make the region prosperous.

But prosperity is not felt on the ground. Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate have no representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region receives only a fraction of the national budget.

In many areas, women have never cast their votes. 

Sadia Danish of the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) comes from one such area, Tangir, in Diamir district.

“Daril and Tangir regions of Diamir district have poor literacy rate and women are mostly kept confined to domestic works," PPP Gilgit-Baltistan chapter president Amjad Hussain Advocate told Arab News. "That’s why we have awarded the party’s ticket to the female candidate in Tangir area to spread awareness among women about their due rights."

Earlier this month, the federal government said it had decided to elevate the impoverished region’s status to that of a province, which would give it greater political representation.

The announcement came a year after India changed the status of the portion of Kashmir it controls, taking away the regions autonomy. India rejects Khan’s plan to change Gilgit-Baltistan’s status, and has called the election there an exercise to cover up Pakistan’s occupation of the region. Islamabad denies this. 

Representatives of the PTI say they are confident the party will win a majority in the polls and form the local government. PTI Gilgit division president Raja Jahanzeb said a "fair election" was being held in the region for the first time.


Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mills revival, industrial cooperation at INNOPROM forum

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mills revival, industrial cooperation at INNOPROM forum


ISLAMABAD: Russia and Pakistan discussed plans to modernize a major steel complex and expand industrial cooperation during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the INNOPROM Annual Industrial Forum in Yekaterinburg, state media reported on Tuesday.

The meeting between Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Industries and Production, and Russian Trade and Industry Minister Anton Alikhanov focused on reviving Pakistan’s dormant steel industry and enhancing bilateral trade.

INNOPROM is Russia’s largest annual industrial trade fair, bringing together government delegations, business leaders and technology firms from over 30 countries to explore partnerships in manufacturing, engineering and high-tech industries.

“Both sides reviewed technical aspects of modernizing the Pakistan Steel Mills to establish a cutting-edge metallurgical facility,” Pakistan Television (PTV) reported. “The discussions also explored ways to enhance trade ties and promote industrial collaboration between the two countries.”

Earlier this month, Russian Consul-General Andrey B. Fedorov told Arab News Moscow expected to finalize an agreement with Islamabad this summer to construct a new steel mill in Karachi.

The original Pakistan Steel Mills, once the country’s flagship industrial complex, was built in the 1970s with Soviet assistance. While it symbolized national self-sufficiency, the mill has been non-operational since 2015 due to years of financial mismanagement, political interference and mounting losses.

Technical experts from Russia have already inspected the proposed site for the new facility, and another delegation is expected soon to draft a detailed roadmap.

Russia has a long history of industrial cooperation with Pakistan, having previously built key infrastructure projects such as the Guddu Power Station in Sindh in the 1980s, one of the country’s major electricity producers.

Moscow and Islamabad have expanded cooperation in recent years despite global tensions over the war in Ukraine.


US reaffirms Trump’s role in India-Pakistan ceasefire, contradicting New Delhi’s denials

Updated 09 July 2025
Follow

US reaffirms Trump’s role in India-Pakistan ceasefire, contradicting New Delhi’s denials

  • Tammy Bruce says people today can see events unfold for themselves and don’t need official statements to know what really happened
  • New Delhi has denied any US role in the ceasefire with Pakistan, while Islamabad has acknowledged and praised American involvement

ISLAMABAD: A US State Department official reaffirmed on Tuesday President Donald Trump and his top administration officials were involved in negotiations that led to a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year, contradicting repeated statements from Indian officials denying any American role.

Speaking at a State Department media briefing in Washington, spokesperson Tammy Bruce responded to a question about New Delhi’s rejection of Trump’s involvement in the truce.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of his cabinet have insisted that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally, without third-party mediation.

“So many comments speak for themselves,” she said. “That’s one of the good-news aspects of our modern world — people can see what’s really occurring. You’re not reliant on a comment to know what has really happened.”

She maintained “Secretary [of State] Marco Rubio ... the Vice President of the United States [JD Vance were] also involved in the negotiations with Pakistan and India,” which was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10.

Bruce’s comments came amid continued tension between Indian and American narratives about the circumstances that led to the ceasefire after four days of intense military conflict between the two South Asian nuclear rivals.

The Trump administration announced the two countries had agreed to halt hostilities and engage in talks at a neutral venue.

While the Trump administration publicly claimed credit for defusing the crisis, New Delhi maintained silence initially. In recent weeks, however, Indian officials have pushed back against suggestions of US mediation.

Suggestions of foreign involvement in Indian foreign policy engagements in the region, particularly with Pakistan, are often politically sensitive.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi announced in a statement after last month’s G7 meeting in Canada that Modi had challenged the American perspective, saying there was no US mediation in the Pakistan truce.

Subsequently, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made similar remarks to clarify India’s position on the issue.

Pakistan, in contrast, has openly acknowledged and praised US involvement, with the government even nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize following the ceasefire announcement.


Punjab braces for more rain as monsoon spell expected to continue until July 13

Updated 09 July 2025
Follow

Punjab braces for more rain as monsoon spell expected to continue until July 13

  • Provincial Disaster Management Authority advises citizens to avoid swimming in rivers, canals and streams
  • It asks people to stay in safe areas as intense rainfall is expected in several regions during the next 24 hours

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing spell of monsoon rains is expected to continue across most districts of Pakistan’s Punjab province until July 13, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Wednesday, urging residents to take precautionary measures amid forecasts of intense downpours in the next 24 hours.

In the last 24 hours, significant rainfall was recorded in several cities, including Khanewal (51mm), Rawalpindi (42mm), Sahiwal (44mm) and Murree (41mm), according to the PDMA spokesperson. Lahore received 23mm of rain, while Okara recorded 30mm, Mandi Bahauddin 27mm, Mangla 24mm and Toba Tek Singh 13mm.

“The monsoon spell is likely to persist across the province until July 13,” said Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General of Punjab PDMA, in a statement.

“Severe rainfall is expected in several regions during the next 24 hours,” he added.

Kathia advised citizens to avoid swimming in rivers, canals and streams, warning that Punjab’s government has imposed Section 144 to restrict public access to water bodies due to the risk of flooding and drowning.

“People should stay in safe areas during thunderstorms and avoid taking shelter in mud houses or dilapidated buildings,” he said. “Drivers are urged to reduce speed during rainfall and maintain safe distances to avoid accidents.”


Turkish ministers arrive in Pakistan for talks on defense cooperation, counterterrorism

Updated 09 July 2025
Follow

Turkish ministers arrive in Pakistan for talks on defense cooperation, counterterrorism

  • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler reached Pakistan late Tuesday night
  • The visit follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian strikes in Pakistan during a brief military conflict in May

ISLAMABAD: Türkiye’s defense and foreign ministers arrived in Pakistan on late Tuesday night for a series of high-level meetings expected to focus on counterterrorism, defense cooperation and broader strategic ties, according to the foreign office in Islamabad.

The visit comes amid deepening relations between the two countries and follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian cross-border strikes in Pakistan during a brief conflict between the two South Asian neighbors in May.

The Pakistani administration announced the arrival of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in two separate official statements.

“During [their] official visit to Pakistan, key matters of mutual interest will be discussed,” the foreign office said. “The visit highlights the close brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, founded on shared values, mutual respect, and a long history of friendship.”

The Turkish state broadcaster TRT International said the visit “is expected to advance bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and counter-terrorism,” adding the “delegation is also expected to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.”

Pakistan and Türkiye have maintained close military ties in recent years.

Under a 2018 agreement, Türkiye is delivering four MILGEM-class corvettes to the Pakistan Navy, with two built in Istanbul and two at Karachi Shipyard under a technology transfer arrangement.

The first vessel, PNS Babur, was delivered in 2023.
 


IMF’s $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan’s return to global bonds — analysts

Updated 09 July 2025
Follow

IMF’s $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan’s return to global bonds — analysts

  • The IMF country representative to Pakistan says the government’s program implementation remains strong
  • Analysts say IMF support was crucial during default scare and will remain vital until economic stabilization

KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to receive about $2.5 billion in financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the current fiscal year (FY26), which analysts say will support the country’s bid to re-enter the international bonds market through instruments such as sukuk or Panda bonds.

The funding will be part of the IMF’s $7 billion commitment to Pakistan over the next two years, comprising $5.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $1.4 billion through the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), aimed at strengthening the country’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF’s latest country report.

“The first review under the RSF, if on schedule, would go to the Executive Board for approval sometime in late 2025, along with the second EFF review,” IMF’s resident representative Mahir Binici told Arab News in a text message.

The Fund’s second review of Pakistan’s economy and end-June 2025 performance criteria is scheduled for September 15. If completed successfully, it would lead to the release of approximately $1.04 billion under the EFF and $211 million through the RSF. A third review is scheduled for March 2026 and would entitle Pakistan to the same amount of funding, if cleared.

“This would be the earliest time at which Pakistan could access RSF-related financing,” said Mahir, referring to the $1.4 billion climate resilience loan the lender approved earlier this year in May. The RSF will be disbursed in equal tranches of about $211 million over the next 28 months.

Pakistan is consistently ranked among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. The country suffered its worst floods in 2022, which killed over 1,700 people, displaced millions and caused infrastructure damage worth an estimated $30 billion. Even this monsoon season, flash floods have already killed more than 60 people, mostly in the country’s northwest and central regions.

The climate funding will be disbursed “with each joint EFF and RSF review,” Mahir said.

“The first EFF review and RSF request were recently concluded, and the program implementation has been strong,” he said in response to a question about Pakistan’s performance in terms of compliance with the loan’s conditions.

Sana Tawfik, a Karachi-based economist and head of research at Arif Habib Ltd., said the IMF’s financial support was a key factor behind Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and would keep the government on track to secure funding from both bilateral and commercial lenders.

“The bilateral lenders like China, Saudi Arabia and other countries, as well as Pakistan’s commercial lenders closely observe whether or not the IMF is onboard,” she said.

Tawfik maintained Pakistan was aiming to return to the international bonds market, potentially through a sukuk issue or Panda bonds.

In March, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said his government aimed to raise about $200 million through Panda bonds by December 2025 to diversify funding sources, reduce dependence on Western markets, and boost foreign exchange reserves.

The move came after an improvement in Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating by three major agencies, with the government targeting a “single-B” rating to regain access to global debt markets.

“The IMF staying on board is very important for this,” Tawfik said, adding that continued dollar inflows were also critical to repaying Pakistan’s external debt.

In FY26 alone, the country is expected to repay around $17 billion in foreign loans, excluding the current account deficit, according to IMF data.

“The significance of this 37-month loan program is that it came as a medium-term support for Pakistan and that’s why we are seeing improvement in our macroeconomic indicators,” she told Arab News.

Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., said participation in the IMF program served as a crucial policy anchor, supporting structural reforms aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s fragile economy.

While the country looks to tap global capital markets, Ghani said “association with the Fund is essential for enhancing confidence among both local and international investors.”

He added that continued IMF backing was key to unlocking further multilateral and bilateral support.

Tawfik agreed.

“The IMF support was important for Pakistan at the time [it came close to] default [in 2023] and it will remain important until we properly stabilize as an economy,” she said.