VISIT HUNZA PAKISTAN

WITH reportedly the highest GDP per capita and a literacy rate of above 80pc, the Hunza valley, originally famous for its natural beauty and high life expectancy rates, has been dubbed as a successful model of development within Pakistan and abroad. The models of poverty alleviation pursued by a number of non-profits were soon replicated in all Pakistani provinces and even in neighbouring countries. Whether Hunza still remains a successful model of development in the developing world is debatable. Much has changed in the economics of poverty and development, and the combination of high income and high literacy rate might not have translated to societal improvement. Contemporary economics of human development puts more weight on the quality of living standards, access to health and education, freedom of choice, ability to participate in local decision-making etc. Deprivation in these areas may lead to multidimensional poverty. Based on Mahbabul Haq’s human development foundations,...

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: Undeterred by its reputation of killer mountain and the unfortunate death of climbers in late June, expeditions were returning to capture Nanga Parbat this winter. All three expeditions from Poland, Italy and Germany had got permission to climb the world’s ninth highest peak from the western end of the Himalayan Range ending in Pakistan. Simone Moro, a respected name among the mountaineers, is leading the Italian expedition. He is known for his first ever winter ascents of three of the eight thousanders (peak above eight thousand metres), the Shisha Pangma in China in 2005, Makalu, on the border of Nepal and China in 2009 and then the Gasherbrum II in Pakistan in 2011. German climber Ralf Dujmovits who is also attempting the Nanga Parbat this winter was also arriving into Pakistan with the Italians and the Poles in December. In 2009, he became the 16th person in the world to have captured the peaks of all the 14 eight thousand plus mountains in the world....

The Pakistan – China border at the Khunzhrav National Park (misspelled in official documents as Khunjerab) has been closed for traffic. As part of the 1985 border protocol, the road remains closed for almost five months during the severe winter. The road remains inaccessible and unusable due to several feet of snowfall during the winter season every year. The road will reopen in the month of April for trade and traffic. The Pakistani traders in various cities of Xinjiang province have been asked to return by the 3rd of December, 2013. Road trade between the two countries has diminished drastically due to closure of the strategic Karakoram Highway, near Attabad village, in upper Hunza Valley, since January 4, 2010. (Pamir Times)

Islamabad: The terrorist attack near West Face of the Nanga Parbat mountain is a conspiracy aimed at destabilization of Pakistan’s economy. If the government and law enforcing agencies act fast the terrorists behind the massacre can easily be arrested, because it would take anyone at least 18 hours to get out of the region. Around 250,000 people’s lives in Gilgit-Baltistan will be affected directly if the tourism industry cripples. These views were expressed by Amjad Ayub, President of Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO), at a hurriedly called press conference here in Islamabad. Also present at the press conference were Ashraf Aman, Ghulam Nabi Raikoti, Karar Haideri and representatives of other tour operating agencies. Responding to a question, Ayub said that enemies of Pakistan, who are “well-known”, are behind the incident, without giving any names. However, he said that it is highly unlikely for any local to be behind the massacre, “because their lives depend on tour...