NALTAR VALLEY

Naltar is a valley near Gilgit and Hunza in the Gilgit–Baltistan province. It is a forested village known for its wildlife and magnificent mountain scenery. This valley is equally known for skiing in winters and greenry and scenic beauty in Summer. There is a lake in the Naltar valley known as 'Bashkiri Lake' at a distance of 13 kilometers (08 mi) from Upper Naltar . The road from village to the lake is nonmetallic and narrow alongside a stream throughout this road coming from the mountains. In winter it is almost impossible to reach the lake through any vehicle due to the snow (10 to 15 feet high) on the road. Tourists from across the world visit here to see the nature at its best. 

NAUROZ MUBARAK

On 21 March every year, Navroz (Nowruz) festival is celebrated in many Muslim communities and cultures, particularly those belonging to the Shia (Ismaili, Twelvers etc). For many communities, it marks the beginning of a new year and the first day of spring. Nauroz is celebrated in Hunza with the same theme. It is simultaneously a Cultural and a Religious festival.

Blue Sheep having 32 Inchs Long Horns; Hunted

A blue sheep with 32-inch-long horns is hunted by an Italian hunter; Boieti Gian Carlo in the wildlife conservatory at Hunza Gojal near the Pak-China border. Blue sheep is the Pakistan’s longest and the world’s second longest animal.  The Italian hunter payed permit fee of 8,000 US dollars to the Gilgit-Baltistan wildlife department. Blue sheep is a rare species and only found in Nepal and Pakistan.

80 percent of the income from the sale of hunting permits went to the local community to be spent on development of wildlife in their respective areas. Twenty per cent of the amount would go to the government exchequer. In Khunjrab Village Organization's wildlife reserve live 30 snow leopards and other wildlife species.

The hunting season begins in November and ends in April. The wildlife department issues hunting permits for only the aged animals.

Mount Everest under the feet of Hunza Woman

Pakistani mountaineering siblings Samina and Mirza Ali Baig are being backed by a special kind of Adventure Diplomacy Group (ADG), consisting of the Embassies of Republic of Argentina, Republic of Indonesia, Nepal, Russian Federation, United States of America, and the Serena hotel, for the “Beyond the heights” documentary which paid a tribute to Samina Mirza Ali.

In May 2013, Samina Baig made headlines around the world when she climbed Mount Everest. Her brother Mirza Ali had accompanied her on the trek, but stayed back while she conquered the mountain. The duo helped make a powerful statement about women’s empowerment.

After the pair returned from Mount Everest, the Serena Hotels founded the ADG to help turn the duo’s dream of becoming the world’s first siblings to conquer seven of the world’s highest peaks across seven continents into reality. The Group, consisting of Embassies of the Argentine Republic, Republic of Indonesia, Nepal, Russian Federation, United States of America, along with Serena Hotels, aimed to facilitate and sponsor Samina and Mirza’s journey across the world to promote peace, gender equality, women empowerment, youth development, and environmental awareness. On July 24, 2014, an excited Mirza announced via satellite phone that he and his sister had hoisted the green flag of Pakistan on top of Mount Elbrus, which runs high at 5,642m.

On Thursday, the ADG hosted an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated documentary called “beyond the heights” which featured Samina’s mountaineering efforts, which helped her land at the top of Mount Everest. The premiere of the documentary was attended by business leaders, government officials, and diplomats from across Islamabad. A beaming Mirza, who had filmed the footage for the documentary, spoke before the screening. He said, “Pakistan’s youth is brimming with promise. It is a pleasure to unveil tonight how much my sister – one of the strongest women I know -has accomplished through her perseverance. All Pakistani women are capable of this strength. We must support them in all their endeavours.” Mirza had stayed behind in during May 2013, and is preparing to summit Mount Everest this year in April.
Nepalese Ambassador Bharat Raj Paudyal delivered the welcome note. He said, “Mountaineering is a tough challenge anywhere in the world and it becomes tougher both physically and logistically when you aim for the highest point on earth. By their perseverance and commitment, Samina and Mirza have achieved something that serves as an inspiration to the youth of Pakistan.” The documentary opened with spellbinding shots of Mirza and Samina’s hometown in Shimshal, a valley in Upper Hunza. The audience fell silent as they watched Samina’s courage play out on the screen as she travelled against great odds from her village in Hunza to the summit of Mount Everest.
Addressing the event, US Ambassador Richard Olson said, “Every March, we celebrate Women’s History Month in the United States to recognise the contributions of women in all aspects of our society. Samina’s achievements on and off the summits are an inspiration to all of us.”
Samina’s work is not just an inspiration for women, but to all Pakistanis who want to do something that really helps them stand ou

International Women Day

To commemorate the upcoming International Women’s Day, Martine Dorance, the French ambassador to Pakistan hosted a gathering at her residence to introduce a group of female carpenters from (Hunza & Chitral) Gilgit-Baltistan. Women belonging to the civil society, politics, academia and media attended the event to celebrate and hear from 10 female carpenters — stories of their struggle to find a niche in a predominantly patriarchal part of the country.

Young women trained in a skill development project focusing on carpentry, masonry and others, from Hunza and Chitral with the support of the foreign countries participated in the event. Bibi Amina proudly introduced herself as the first female carpenter from Hunza.

It was in 2008, when Amina lost her father. With insufficient finances to complete her education, she decided to become a carpenter. “There was no social acceptance [of a woman working outside her home],” Amina said.

Her need to earn a living soon became her passion. Over the years, Amina’s will to learn took her to Norway for training and her story encouraged other girls to enter carpentry.

“Today, when I see other girls doing what I started doing alone, it is a feeling I can’t express,” she said.

Aqeela Bano Shah, surveyor of the project, said transport of products to other parts of the country was difficult, adding that most sales were made within G-B. However, carpentry for many women in G-B has not just been about money. It is also about creating a niche for working women in various professions.

As the funds will come to an end in coming June, Shah is positive to keep the project running on their own.

Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization CEO Aisha Khan said “empowerment of a woman lies with [control over] economics.”

Rights activist Farzana Bari said the state continues to behave in a patriarchal manner and has turned a blind eye towards the bill on domestic violence.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the French envoy said after arriving very recently in Pakistan, she was enthralled to meet women from almost every profession.

“Women here are in every field. The event today educated us on different issues and helped exchange views,” she said.

Poet Kishwar Naheed appreciated young carpenters from Hunza for adopting non-professional skills while Baela Jamil, coordinator of Annual Status of Education Report, said the government should ensure compulsory education for everyone, especially girls

Altit Fort

Altit Fort

Altit Fort is an ancient fort above Karimabad in the Hunza valley in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It was originally home to the hereditary rulers of the Hunza state who carried the title Mir, although they moved to the somewhat younger Baltit Fort nearby three centuries later. Altit Fort and in particular the Shikari tower is around 1100 years old, which makes it the oldest monument in the Gilgit–Baltistan.

The word Altit means down side and is a Tibetan word. The people of Altit are said to belong to the white Huns, although not much research has gone into the matter. It is said that the present language Bruchiski was brought here by the white Huns in 47 A.D. The first name for Altit village was Hunukushal, meaning the village of Huns. The Huns came from the Huang-Ho valley in China. The name later changed to Broshal, translated as a village of Brushashki speakers. They were spirit worshippers as Shamanism was in practice. In the 15th century Shia Islam was introduced. Around 1830 in turn all the population converted to Ismailism.