KHAPLU: A Pakistani tourism company to which dozens of properties in the picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan region have been leased by the government recently, unleashing a wave of protests, said this week locals would not be left behind as it developed tourist areas and infrastructure.
Residents of Skardu Valley came out in protest earlier this week after 37 properties belonging to GB’s Forest and Communication and Works Departments were leased out to the Green Tourism Company, which has been widely described by demonstrators as being “army-backed.”
Gilgit-Baltistan, an impoverished, remote and rugged mountainous part of the larger Kashmir region also claimed by India, is governed as a separate administrative territory under Pakistan-governed Azad Kashmir. Home to some of the tallest mountains in the world, GB is a major tourist destination, with foreign and local tourism forming the backbone of its economy.
Strategically, GB is important as the only land-based link between Pakistan and its closest regional ally, China. The Pakistan army maintains a large security presence in the area, which borders Afghanistan and China and is the gateway of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure plan. But the region has so far reaped few rewards.
Locals fought pro-India forces and opted to join Pakistan in 1948. But since then Gilgit-Baltistan has not been granted full inclusion by the Pakistani constitution over fears doing so would jeopardize Islamabad’s international stance that all of Kashmir is disputed territory. The region’s local assembly has few powers. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate have no representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region receives only a fraction of the national budget.
“We are here to develop the tourism areas and infrastructure by engaging local communities,” Ghazanfar Khan, Green Tourism’s administration director, told Arab News, saying the company’s work in GB would create 300 direct and about 3,000 to 4,000 indirect job opportunities.
“The development of tourism infrastructure is a vital component of the thriving tourism industry. Uplifting accommodation options, improving transportation system, tourist facilities, information and communication technologies, sustainable infrastructure and community engagement are the top priorities of the company.”
Asked if Green Tourism was “army-backed,” Khan said it was government-owned and worked under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military hybrid body established last year to oversee foreign financing, but which is widely believed to be run directly by the army.
The SIFC has earmarked several economic sectors, including tourism, that are being prioritized for foreign investment.
“The main purpose of SIFC is to attract foreign investors to the country,” Khan said. “And you know, for foreign investors, whenever they go, they need security. That’s why the prime minister is the head of SIFC and the Pakistan army will provide them [SIFC projects] security.”
The military did not respond to requests for comment.
The company official said global marketing strategies would be used by the company to harness and promote GB’s vast tourism potential:
“All projects will adhere to environmental sustainability principles, ensuring that no trees are cut during development. Furthermore, local cuisines, artefacts and cultural heritage will be actively promoted to enrich the tourism experience and support local communities.”
However, the chairman of the Awami Action Committee that launched the protests this week described the tourist firm’s presence in GB as a “conspiracy” to occupy the area’s resources.
“They should be leased out to locals,” he said about the 37 properties leased to Green Tourism.
“Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed region and without taking the public into confidence, there is no need to bring investors from outside,” Agha Ali Rizvi, a local elder and religious scholar, said. “All the lands allotted to the company are public property. Ignoring the public and signing a deal with [outside] investors is not a good omen.”
Rizvi said if the government wanted to promote the tourism industry, it should provide electricity, water, education and health facilities to the people of GB.
The region’s tourism minister Ghulam Muhammad said the administration had decided to lease out the properties to upgrade tourist destinations and attract more visitors, which would ultimately benefit locals.
“Government rest houses were built in GB when there was no concept of the private sector here,” he said.
“Now, you see, big hotels have come to the area. The government was facing huge losses and [these properties] were becoming a [financial] burden. So, to get benefit, we leased them out to the Green Tourism Company.”
Amid protests, ‘army-backed’ tourism firm that leased Gilgit-Baltistan properties promises jobs for locals
https://arab.news/m93pw
Amid protests, ‘army-backed’ tourism firm that leased Gilgit-Baltistan properties promises jobs for locals
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/05/31/4391131-273797654.jpg?itok=0prAXXI6)
- Green Tourism Company to which 37 GB properties leased says it works under civil-military investment council
- Awami Action Committee leading protests described firm’s presence in GB as “conspiracy” to occupy area’s resources
Bodies of three Pakistani climbers retrieved after nine years from Sarwali Peak in Azad Kashmir
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/09/07/4521789-1304578247.jpg?itok=H2-bUXy8)
- The missing climbers, Imran Junaidi, Usman Khalid, and Khurram Shehzad, embarked on a journey to summit Sarwali Peak in Neelum district in August 2015
- The bodies of the missing climbers were spotted by two trekkers last month, after which a mission involving two dozen volunteers was launched on Sept. 3
KHAPLU: A team of Pakistani climbers and porters has retrieved bodies of three local mountaineers who had gone missing on 6,326-meter Sarwali Peak in Azad Kashmir nine years ago, an official and volunteers said on Saturday.
Sarwali Peak, also known as Dabbar Peak, in Azad Kashmir’s Neelum District is believed to be one of the few unconquered mountain peaks in the region, with no confirmed ascent till date.
The missing climbers, Imran Junaidi, Usman Khalid and Khurram Shehzad, had embarked on a journey to summit the Peak in August 2015, but went missing while attempting a push on the right saddle of the mountain.
A comprehensive search operation was launched on September 7, 2015 to locate the missing climbers, but no trace of them could be found.
“The bodies of all three missing climbers were spotted last month by two trekkers,” Akhtar Ayoub, in-charge of the Azad Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in Neelum district, told Arab News.
“A special rescue team was formed to retrieve the bodies and today, their bodies and remains were retrieved from the advance base camp side.”
Two dozen volunteers, including climbers, rescuers and porters, took part in the mission and brought down the bodies from a height of 16,000 feet, according to the official. The team departed on the mission on Sept. 3 and retrieved the bodies today, Saturday.
“We found the bodies near the advance base camp at the right saddle of the mountain,” Imran Arif, a member of the recovery team, told Arab News, adding that all three had been identified.
Arif said he and his fellow had spotted the bodies while trekking on the mountain on August 12.
“We preserved the bodies and came back to Kel Valley. Four days ago, we went for the rescue mission and today their dead bodies have been shifted to a hospital of Kel Valley,” he said.
“State Disaster Management Authority, district administration, Rescue 1122 and Alpine Club of Pakistan played a good role in this mission.”
Ikram Junaidi, bother of late climber Imran Junaidi, told Arab News they would now find a final resting place for his brother.
“Many attempts were made to find them in the past. But after nine years, we got news about the retrieval of dead bodies. Being a brother and a Muslim, it was our dream to offer funeral prayers for him. Now we will get a chance,” he said. “What matters is the quality of life instead of quantity. My brother went for expeditions on unclimbed peaks.”
Ikram said his mother had lost all hopes of finding Junaidi’s body, but she would now find solace in the fact that her son’s body had finally been recovered.
Pakistan says head coach to scout for cricketing talent in domestic event after dismal performances
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/09/07/4521773-682467267.png?itok=PX3QjlYz)
- Pakistan have been reeling after their first-ever Test series loss to Bangladesh this month, the latest in a string of poor performances
- The defeat came hard on the heels of chastening losses against Afghanistan and United States in the ODI and T20 World Cups respectively
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s head coach Gary Kirsten will be scouting for cricketing talent in the upcoming Champions Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday, following a series of dismal performances by the national side.
Pakistan have been left reeling after their first-ever Test series loss to Bangladesh this month, the latest in a string of poor performances which have seen the game hit rock bottom.
The cricket-mad nation was left in despair after losing the second Test in Rawalpindi by six wickets on Tuesday as Bangladesh swept the series 2-0. It was the 10th winless home Test in a row for former powerhouses Pakistan.
However, the PCB has set its sights on the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup, due to take place at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29, to find new cricketing talent in the country.
“Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten will be arriving on 12 September to witness the entire Champions One-Day Cup and it will surely be exciting for him to work in the domestic circuit in order to look into the young talent with an eye on the upcoming white-ball assignments in Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, followed by the home tri-national series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” Nadeem Khan, a senior PCB official, was quoted as saying by the board.
“The Champions One-Day Cup will help us unearth future white-ball prospects for the Pakistan’s white-ball teams, also marking the start of the preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Having the Champions Cup in September will allow us to give an extended opportunity to the top performers of this tournament in International cricket before the mega-event commences home.”
Team mentors of the five sides in the tournament include Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Dolphins), Shoaib Malik (Stallions) and Waqar Younis (Lions). The PCB also announced captains and provisional squads on Friday.
The tournament featuring top players from across the country will be a 50-over competition played on a single-league format. All matches will start at 3pm, except for the match between Lions and Panthers on September 16, which will begin at 9:30am.
Pakistan’s loss to Bangladesh came hard on the heels of chastening losses against Afghanistan and the USA in the ODI and T20 World Cups respectively.
Pakistan also have a dismal record in Tests at home in the past three years — six defeats and four draws, including England’s first-ever 3-0 series sweep there in 2022.
Ominously, in-form England are Pakistan’s next visitors and will play three Tests beginning in Multan on October 7.
Pakistan are not faring any better away from home and lost all three Tests in Australia earlier this year — their sixth successive whitewash there since 1999.
Analysts say frequent changes at the top of the PCB, which has had five chairmen in the past three years, have impeded progress. There have also been constant switches of captains and coaching staff while the domestic system of tournaments has had countless overhauls.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi himself called for “surgery in the system” after the T20 World Cup exit.
“We need to fix our problems,” he said last month. “But when we look at how to resolve them, we don’t have any solid data or player pool which we can draw from.”
Ex-skipper Wasim Akram echoed Naqvi’s analysis.
“The quality of our cricket has gone down with no grassroots activity, so we do not have proper back-ups,” he said recently. “We have a lot to work on.”
Pakistan Navy ships visit UAE to participate in Nasl Al Bahr exercise
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/09/07/4521762-1343253010.jpg?itok=gtaxMPXD)
- The ships were received by UAE Navy officials and Pakistan’s defense attaché upon arrival at Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi
- The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, operational readiness and consolidate existing relations between both navies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ships (PNS) Shamsheer and Haibat arrived at Mina Zayed Port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the Nasl Al Bahr naval exercise, Pakistan Navy said on Saturday.
Upon arrival at the port in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan Navy ships were received by senior officials of the UAE Navy and Pakistan’s defense attaché, according to the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy.
Mission commander of Pakistan Navy, Commodore Shahid Wasif, along with commanding officers of PNS Shamsheer and Haibat called on Brig. Abdullah Faraj Al Muhairi, deputy commander of the UAE Navy.
During the interactions, matters of mutual interests were discussed and enhancement of bilateral ties in all spheres was reaffirmed. In addition, modalities for the conduct of the exercise were also deliberated upon with the host navy.
“After the port call, PNS SHAMSHEER & PNS HAIBAT will participate in Ex NASL AL BAHR,” the DGPR said in a statement. “The exercise is aimed to enhance interoperability, display operational readiness and consolidate existing strong bilateral relations between the two navies.”
During the port stay, UAE’s Assistant Minister for Security and Maritime Affairs Salem Saeed Al-Jabri, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, senior leadership of the UAE armed forces and notables from the Pakistani community also visited the ships.
Students and Pakistani community displayed excitement during their visit, while officers and men of both navies also conducted cross visit of naval units and participated in joint sports activities.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates and the second-largest source of remittances to Pakistan after Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan embassy in Riyadh hosts reception to mark Defense Day
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/09/07/4521721-297400512.jpg?itok=MnjrwjaF)
- Pakistan celebrates annual Defense Day on Sept. 6 to honor soldiers who fought 1965 war against India
- The reception was attended by Saudi dignitaries as well as officials from Diplomatic, Military Corps
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’ embassy in Saudi Arabia has held a reception in Riyadh to mark the country’s Defense Day, the embassy said on Saturday.
The South Asian country celebrates its Defense Day each year on September 6 to honor the soldiers who fought against India in the 1965 war.
“Dignitaries from Saudi Arabia and friends from Diplomatic and Military Corps widely attended the event,” the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh said on X.
Pakistan on Friday inducted two new warships, Babur and Hunain, into its naval fleet, as the nation marked its Defense Day.
Hunain is a multipurpose medium-sized offshore patrol vessel, equipped with state-of-the-art electronic warfare, anti-ship and anti-air warfare weapons, sensors, and self-protection and terminal defense system. The Babur-class corvette is a subclass of the Turkish MILGEM project. The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette and also equipped with vertical launch systems.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf termed the induction of these ships a “major milestone in capacity building of PN [Pakistan Navy] Fleet,” Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi hosted a reception to mark Defense Day aboard Pakistan Navy Ship Shamsheer at the Cruise Terminal, Mina Zayed Port, the mission said in a statement.
Pakistan’s envoy to the UAE, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, along with Commodore Shahid Wasif SI (M), Mission Commander of the Pakistan Navy, welcomed chief guest General Salem Saeed Al Jabri, UAE’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Military and Security Affairs, and Brig. Abdullah Al Mohairbi, Deputy Commander of the UAE Navy, at the reception, which was attended by members of the diplomatic corps and officials of the UAE government.
Monsoon death toll nears 350 as more rains lash parts of Pakistan
![](https://www.arabnews.pk/sites/default/files/styles/n_670_395/public/main-image/2024/09/07/4521700-151184773.jpg?itok=o0vUfgDW)
- The South Asian country has seen erratic weather changes blamed on climate change
- Pakistan this year recorded its ‘wettest April since 1961,’ with 59.3 millimeters of rainfall
ISLAMABAD: The death toll from rain-related incidents in Pakistan has jumped to 347 since the beginning of monsoon season in July, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Friday, adding another 648 people were wounded in disasters.
Monsoon rains are crucial for Pakistan’s agrarian economy, providing essential water for crops and replenishing water reservoirs.
However, the country has lately been experiencing increasingly erratic weather patterns, including harsh rains, heatwaves, droughts and floods.
“Three hundred and forty-seven people, including 54 females and 175 children, have lost their lives in monsoon rains [since July 1],” the NDMA said. “Six hundred and forty-eight people, including 153 females and 252 children, were also injured.”
Monsoon downpours have completely destroyed 5,703 homes, while 31,803 houses were partially damaged since July 1, according to the authority.
More showers lashed Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and several other cities in Pakistan late Friday.
Scientists have blamed the erratic weather changes in Pakistan on climate change. This year, the South Asian country recorded its “wettest April since 1961,” with 59.3 millimeters of rainfall, while some areas of the country faced deadly heatwaves in May and June.
In 2022, unusually heavy rains triggered floods in many parts of the country, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting economic losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people.