Who we are?
This blog aims to serve as a dedicated portal for research and knowledge concerning critical development issues such as poverty reduction, access to quality health, access to primary and universal education, gender empowerment and political awareness in the resource rich Gilgit-Baltistan.
There has been some measurable progress over the last five decades in people’s income levels, education and rate of literacy, and marginal improvements in the quality of life, thanks largely to opening of Karakorum Highway in 1970s that connected the region to the rest of the world and the introduction of international tourism in 80s that brought rich travellers from around the globe to Giligit-Baltistan. The intensive involvement of international and local NGOs, and the private sector bolstered through regional trade with China which is also a major factor, is however a relatively recent phenomenon in the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan, dating back to, admittedly, the war of independence on November 1st 1948.
However, over the period of time since November 1st 1948, little has changed in the political lives of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, where the inhabitants are still facing political marginalization under ‘‘internal colonialization’’. Little has changed in terms of creation of a viable justice system, and there has been not a proper legal framework in place. This situation of colonial status, absence of self-governance mechanisms, economic disparities and structural imbalances have deprived the people of Gilgit-Baltistan from attaining required processes of social organization, political direction and policy implementation. Even today poverty remains a key challenge. This situation has frustrated the desire of the people to stand on their own feet, although the area is rich both in natural resources and human resources. GBPost intends to question this suffocating state of affairs, and encourage people, also noted by UNDP’s 1997 Human Development Report, that ‘people must organise for collective action to influence the circumstances and decisions affecting their lives. To advance their interests, their voices must be heard in the corridors of power.’
We believe that social development and political transformation is a long-term, incremental and a difficult process involving shifts in people’s cultural values, social attitudes, economic roles, and political awareness. Therefore it is through critical reflection on history and culture that any people can hope to chart out programmes of action for future change. We the diverse people of Gilgit-Baltistan now need to take concrete steps, seize the initiative to snatch our rights from those who have usurped them for the last many decades.
In order to achieve that objective, this blog will also seek to engage the inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan and other stakeholders in illuminating open dialogues in order to formulate practical policy recommendations as well as raise the political consciousness of the people in the due process of engagement to keep upright the values of democracy and fundamental human rights.
Comrades, brothers and sisters of Gilgit-Baltistan, if you have any comments, feedback or any good ideas, we would highly appreciate your input, critiques and suggestions. Please feel free to write to us on our e-mail address below.
Thanks
Gilgit-Baltistan Post Team
gilgit.baltistan.post@gmail.com
All are welcome
The Gilgit-Baltistan Post 
This website is an amazing platform to express and discuss multitude of issues.Its entirely knowledge and awareness oriented platform without any kind of commercial purpose. In fact it IS the only website dedicated to arise an intellectual debates about the issues faced by the Gilgit Baltistan region.
It will surely serve to stir the minds of gilgit baltistan dwellers by exposing them to the realities , facts and different point of views consequently leading to a mature and sound approach towards the development and stability of the region.
What is missing is that there is no mention of the founders of this website .They should not conceal their identities
This is an amazing effort. We the people of Gilgit-Baltistan need to raise our voice so that it is not trapped in the high mountains where we live. We need to tell the world taht we are a progressvie, peaceful, and a proud nation living in a region which is obscured by the ever present news of violence in Pakistani cities and areas. Whatever is happenning in Swat, Kohistan or Fronteir provinces is part of a big gamble in which we the people of GB are not participants.
If we are excluded form particiaption then they should also exclude us form their list of possession, and they should leave us alone so that we carve out a destiny for ourselves.
This is an impressive effort, incoporating poliitcal issues with a developmental agenda. Pakistani state has failed to apply policies that would have encouraged local growth, investment and development. Now it falls on the shoulders of conscious individuals to take full responsbility for evolving consenus on key political issues while also engaging the public in an open debate on ideas that would usher in a new age of prosperity and economic developemtn in the region.
A good effort is being doing through this website, it will help increase political awarness among Gilgit-baltistan peoples as their is limited source of readings available regarding political, economic and other walk of life meterials.
Mixing a development agenda with politics is a good idea to begin with. In Gilgit-Baltistan there is no shortage of eager people who can work hard and create great economic activity if given a chance. But unfortunately there are few opportunites available in our region.
Yes it is the responsbility of the government to inittiate programmes of developmetn, not NGOs and other foreign elements. NGOs are driven by narrow agendas and they focus on delivering specific projects but unfortunately they create a lot of public expectation thus endengering and also neutralising momemntum for political and social change.
Like the brother above i appreicate the contribtions fo GBPOST for the upliftment of the consciouness of oru people but i am surprised that you have not revealed your identities, as to who are the operators and brains behnidn this initiative. May be you are trying to make a point that this blog belongs to all the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and everybody should contribute and epxress their free opinion and take the ownership of this public paltform.
Anyway, my prayers and best wishes are there for your this great effort.
This is a good effort to highlight the common issues of the people of GB.
Kindly add a brief history of our region as well. it would be helpful in spreading awareness about our area.
I have worked in Gilgit-Baltistan in what was the Northern Areas of Pakistan. I am really glad to see the progress of the young generation who have now taken on a lead on poliitcal issues. No society can untangle itself from oppressive structrues unless it takes upon itself as a challenge to resist hegemonic forces. As a foreginger i may be making a controversial statement in the sense that Gilgit-Baltistan has now become part of Pakistan, properly. But i would still think that the vocie of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should be heard in the corridors of power in Pakistan.
Dear David,
Thanks for your appreciation. However, I would like to add that GB has not yet become the part of Pakistan as a constitutional amendment would be required to do so.
informative website
This is one of the most informative and high quality websites from Gilgit Baltistan. You should continue to update it.