such as the Shyok River, Baltistan is situated on the high Ladakh Plateau and contains the loftiest peaks of the Karakoram Range—K2 (Mount Godwin Austen; at 28,251feet [8,611 metres] the second highest mountain in the world), Gasherbrum I (26,470 feet [8,068 metres]), and Broad Peak I (26,401 feet [8,047 metres]). Baltistan...

Chief Secretary, Gilgit-Baltistan Tel: (92-0572) 2501
Deputy Commissioner Tel: (92-0572) 2521
I.G. Police Tel: (92-0572) 2403
A.I.G. Tel: (92-0572) 2366
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Airport Police Station el: (92-0572) 3266
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Prior to 1978, Gilgit-Baltistan was cut off from Pakistan due to the harsh terrain and the lack of accessible roads. All of the roads to the south opened towards the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AKJ) and to the southeast towards the present-day Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir. During the summer, people could walk across the mountain passes to travel to Rawalpindi. The fastest way to travel, however, was by air, but air travel was accessible only to a few privileged local people and to Pakistani military and civilian officials. Then, with the assistance of the Chinese government, Pakistan began construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which was completed in 1978. The Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu, which are the two major hubs for mountaineering expeditions in Gilgit-Baltistan. The journey from Islamabad to Gilgit takes approximately 20 to 24 hours. Landslides on the Karakoram Highway are very common. The KKH connects Gilgit to Taxkorgan [disambiguation needed] and Kashgar in China via Sust (the customs and health inspection post on the Northern Areas side) and the Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border crossing in the world at 4,693 metres (15,397 feet).
Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) offers bus and jeep transport service to the two hubs and several other popular destinations, lakes, and glaciers in the area.
The Karakoram HighwayIn March 2006, the respective governments announced that, commencing on June 1, 2006, a thrice-weekly bus service would begin across the boundary from Gilgit to Kashgar, China, and road widening work would begin on 600 kilometres of the Karakoram Highway. There would also be one daily bus in each direction between the Sust and Taxkorgan [disambiguation needed border areas of the two political entities.
Pakistan International Airlines used to fly a Fokker F27 aircraft daily between Gilgit Airport and Islamabad International Airport. The flying time was approximately 50 minutes, and the flight was one of the most scenic flights in the world, as its route passes over the mountain Nanga Parbat, the peak of which was higher than the aircraft's cruising altitude. PIA also offers regular flights of Boeing 737 between Skardu and Islamabad. However, the Fokker F27 aircraft was retired after a crash at Multan in 2006. Currently, flights are being operated by PIA to Gilgit on the brand-new ATR42-500 aircraft, which was purchased in 2006. With the new plane, the cancellation of flights is much less than it was the Fokker aircraft. All flights, however, are subject to weather clearance, and, in winter, flights are often delayed by several days.

Education plays a very important role in the socio-economic development of a society. It enables individuals to make informed decisions, improves their choices and develops their potentials to play productive roles in society. It also provides employment opportunities to low-income families and serves as a vehicle for social mobility, particularly for those who do not have other means of earnings. Experts believe that a minimum 70 per cent literacy rate is essential for initiating and sustaining economic growth and development in a society.
According to a Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey 2006-7, the literacy rate of children aged 10-plus in Pakistan is about 55 per cent while the adult literacy rate of 15-plus population is about 52 per cent. The figures become disturbing when we see larger disparities between the rural and urban population and between males and females. The literacy rate remains higher in the urban areas than what it is in the rural areas and much higher in men than in women.
The adult literacy rate (15 years and above) in males is 65 per cent as compared to 38 per cent in females. Corresponding figures for urban and rural population is 70 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively. If the situation is compared with what it was a few years back, it can be seen that the literacy rate in Pakistan has increased at the rate of about one per cent per annum.
In the Northern Areas of Pakistan, the literacy rate seems to be increasing at a relatively faster pace. The Northern Areas of Pakistan constitute a single administrative unit, which was formed by the amalgamation of the Gilgit Agency, the Baltistan District of Ladakh, and the States of Hunza and Nagar in 1970. These areas or territories were under the administrative control of the Federal Government of Pakistan and hence called Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). The Northern Area Legislative Assembly (NALA) was managing affairs of these areas since 2002.
While honouring the sentiments and demands of the local people, the government of Pakistan recently awarded independent status to these areas and their nomenclature has also been changed to Gilgit and Baltistan. This is not just a change of the name, rather giving an identity to the local people. Northern Areas are comprised of six districts named Gilgit, Ghizer, Astore, Diamer, Skardu and Ghanche. The population of the region is about 1.5 million. Approximately 86 per cent of the population in the Northern Areas lives in the rural areas as compared with an estimated 66 per cent for Pakistan as a whole.
Although education is a provincial subject, but as the Northern Areas were administered by the Federal Government, hence the Federal Government itself was responsible for making provisions for education of children in these areas. According to a 1998 census, the adult literacy in Gilgit and Baltistan was about 38 per cent, which has now risen to 53 per cent in 2005-6 (males 64 per cent and females 41 per cent). This figure is slightly higher than the national figure of 52 per cent in 2006-7 (PSLM, 2006-7). At present Gilgit and Baltistan have a system of education comprising about 2,100 schools or educational institutions, including schools set up by the Federal Government, community-based schools, schools set up by Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) and other NGOs.
However, due to the physical features of these areas the provision of educational facilities in these areas has been a daunting task. Gilgit and Baltistan are isolated and happen to be most inaccessible mountainous regions with a harsh physical environment and severe weather conditions.

The first three primary schools in the Northern Areas were established by the Political Agent in as early as1893 in Gilgit, Astore and Gupis. Until the 1940s, the government was the sole provider of formal education in the Northern Areas. In 1946, the first 17 Diamond Jubilee Schools were established by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), which can be cited as a first community intervention in the field of education in these areas.
The history of female education in these areas is even more disheartening. Because they are far-flung and much at a distance from the rest of the country, there has been less awareness among the people about female education there. Consequently, female education has remained less in focus till about the 1970s. Gradually the local communities became aware of the importance of female education and a struggle for female education began mostly in Ismaili communities, particularly in the Hunza and Ghizer regions. In 1981, female literacy rate in the region was estimated under three per cent as compared to the 16 per cent total literacy rate in Pakistan. Even in the late ‘90s the educational indicators in the entire Northern Areas were reported to be among the worst in the country, and were especially low for girls and women. In 1994, the enrolment rate for girls was just 29 per cent as compared to the 60 per cent for boys. According to a 1998 census, the literacy rate was reported to be 37.85 per cent (male 52.62 per cent and female 21.65 per cent) in the Northern Areas. Female literacy rates in certain areas such as Baltistan were reported as low as 13 per cent.
However, there has been a drastic improvement in the recent years as a result of two interventions. Firstly, about 500 schools were opened under the Social Action Programme in the remote areas in mid-1990 and secondly, a 10-year-long Northern Pakistan Education Project was implemented by AKES with support from the European Commission.
It is because of such interventions, that education facilities have reached almost in each and every corner of the region. I have had the fortune to visit these areas very extensively and I have been amazed to see the establishment of two schools in a village very difficult to access that was situated within half a kilometre of the boarder adjoining Indian occupied Kashmir.

Khaplu is the Headquarters of District Ghanche and basic civic facilities are available. The main town of Khaplu is quite beautiful and worth visiting. Khaplu is spread in a radius about two square miles. One may find a mass of orchard around with abundance of apricot tress. River shyoke flows through the entire length of Khaplu town. A small bazaar exists in Khaplu and the necessary items of daily life are available here. One can also get transportation to every village and valleys of Ghanche from Khaplu. Khaplu has many historical places to visit i.e. Khaplu palace about 600 years old (under rehabilitation process by AKCSP), the famous Chaqchan Mosque and the Tomb of Mir. Following lines and picture give a flavor so much of the natural beauty in Khaplu.
Hushey Valley is the most attractive place to visit in district Ghanche. A chain of lofty peaks i.e. Mashabrum, K-6, K-7, K-12, Sherpikngh, Sia kangri, saltoro kangri, mt.Ghant, linksar, moonlight and many others more than 7000 meter exist in this valley. Thalley Valley is another beautiful spot. The lush green valley and beautiful scenery is marvelous. Ghanche has a number of beautiful lakes like: Kharfaq, Ghanche,Bara and Daholi Lakes which are matchless. Kharfaq Lake is situated about 3 Kms above Kharfaq village and gives an inspiring view while travelling by road to Khaplu. The fresh and crystal water lake is famous for trout fish and attractive location for camping and linking with other places. The lake is stocked with trout fish and one has to walk about two hours to reach the lake. A jeep road is under construction. Ghanche Lake is situated above Khaplu Town and is has not come to the lime light as yet. Bara is a Beautiful village abandoned of orchards and trees near Khaplu. There are two lakes situated in Bara one in Bara Paen and the other in Bara Bala.

Religion:
All the people living in Ghanche are Muslims and mostly people belong to Nurbakhsi Sufi branch of Islam whereas there are Shia Ithna-ashri Muslims as well. The Ulema play a great role in guiding people for religious matters. The scholar is religious leader called ‘Bowa’ in local language and has very important place in society.

Skardu is the main town of Baltistan along the wide bank of the river Indus. Skardu is the largest district of the Northern Areas. Baltistan is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, the Karakoram Range, Skardu is very popular with Mountaineering Expeditions. It is equally popular with high altitude trekkers, who treks to Baltoro Glacier, K-2 Base Camp and Concordia. Skardu by road, lies approximately 5 hours away from Gilgit and 10 hours drive from Besham. A daily flight to and from Islamabad is also in operation. The flight is always subject to weather.
Skardu has a character of its own and has a very interesting scenery. The Indus becomes wide and still here. The town is surrounded by dry rugged mountains and sand dunes.
Skardu is famous for the many trekking and adventure spots around it. There are numerous treks starting from Skardu. The near by Satpara Lake and Shangri-la resort are very famous among the local travelers and is visited by people from all over the country during June & July.