Pakistan’s ruling elite has long sought to solidify its control over the disputed region of Gilgit-Baltistan, a strategy that has been further pushed through dubious media reports. Recently, CNN published a questionable business-oriented report, which Dawn newspaper followed with an article based on insufficient data, attempting to paint a rosy picture of the region’s tourism industry. This has been met with efforts from those in the tourism business in Gilgit-Baltistan to drum up support for such misleading narratives. However, this distorted portrayal fails to reflect the harsh realities that the people of this region face under Pakistani governance.
Official statistics reveal that last year, only 1 million tourists visited Gilgit-Baltistan, out of which just 26,000 were international tourists—merely 2.6% of the total. Furthermore, only 17,000 tourists were granted permission to scale the region’s mountains. Neither CNN nor Dawn published detailed research on these claims or provided insights into the context of the data.
Understanding the environmental destruction imposed by Pakistan’s colonial system in Gilgit-Baltistan requires a closer examination of the 97.4% of domestic tourists who visited last year. These tourists typically come from major Pakistani cities by car or motorcycle, often unaware of the region's natural importance, its local culture, or the environmental significance of the area. They seek to escape the heat of the cities, only to leave behind garbage and waste. These tourists do not contribute to the local economy—rarely buying local products or sampling local food. According to local government data, domestic tourists spend an average of just 80,000 rupees during their week-long stay, providing little economic benefit to the region. On the other hand, foreign tourists generate an average of seven temporary jobs, compared to the two jobs created by domestic tourists.
Globally, tourism is better managed by elected local governments. Unfortunately, Gilgit-Baltistan has been without a functioning local government for over 20 years, with colonial officers controlling all decisions. This lack of governance leads to poor management of the tourism industry, with no benefits for the local community or the environment. Instead of focusing on sustainable tourism and the well-being of the residents, Pakistan’s narrative is built around exploiting the region's resources.
Recently, CNN published a report calling Gilgit-Baltistan "the most beautiful region," but this colonial propaganda fails to mention the ongoing colonial system that dominates the area. It neglects to discuss the absence of local governments for two decades, the denial of basic human rights such as education, healthcare, electricity, water, and internet access, or the exploitation of the region's resources for profit. This type of reporting seems designed to pave the way for Western investment in the region, allowing for future control over its natural resources and strategic position, which may eventually be used against China.
It is clear that the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan need to critically examine such biased and unverified propaganda. Instead of getting swayed by one-sided narratives, they must look at the broader implications of Pakistan’s policies in the region. These policies, which focus on resource exploitation rather than community welfare, leave the people of Hunza and the entire region deprived of their fundamental rights.
As the people of Hunza continue to demand their basic rights, including electricity, better governance, and sustainable economic opportunities, we urge international human rights and environmental organizations to stand in solidarity with them. The struggle of Hunza is not just a local issue, but a global call to address the exploitation of resources and the violation of human rights under Pakistan's colonial rule. It’s time for the world to recognize the plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and hold the authorities accountable for their actions.
Written by Zaara Kashmiri and Safiullah Baig
