In Pakistan, seven Gilgit-Baltistan roads may be transferred to federal control
In Pakistan, seven roads with a total length of 464 km in the Gilgit-Baltistan region are proposed to be transferred to federal government management as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s tourism initiative. After approval by the federal cabinet, the roads will be built, widened, rehabilitated and maintained by Pakistan’s National Highway Authority (NHA), Dawn reports.
Which roads are covered by the plan
The list includes the 54-km Astore–Chilim-Choki road, the 31-km Deosai–Skardu route, the 100-km Skardu–Khaplu road, the 17-km Skardu (Torgu)–Shigar road, as well as the 36-km route from the Karakoram Highway through Naltar to Satrangi Lake.
Two more roads proposed for transfer to the federal government are under construction: the 121-km Talichi–Astore–Rattu–Shounter road and the 105-km Gorikot–Shagartang–Skardu road.
According to an NHA representative, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has already approved the proposal, and the parties have signed a memorandum of understanding. The next step is for the initiative to be considered by the federal cabinet. Only after its approval will the NHA take over the development and long-term maintenance of the seven road links.
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Funding and a fee for tourists
The federal government is expected to provide funding for the work. Previously, the Gilgit-Baltistan authorities bore the costs of maintaining, widening and rehabilitating these roads.
A federal minister also proposed introducing a fee for tourists visiting the region. Local residents are proposed to be fully exempt from paying it, while the proceeds would be directed toward improving Gilgit-Baltistan’s road network.
Connectivity problems
Roads in Gilgit-Baltistan are often blocked by landslides, mudflows, heavy rains, avalanches, flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods. Tourism industry representatives, including tour operators, hotel owners and transport operators, supported the initiative.
Ikram Baig, president of the Gilgit-Baltistan Tour Operators Association, said that frequent closures can leave tourists and local residents cut off for several days, harming the tourism sector. Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Minister Naiknaam Karim said accessibility is crucial for tourism development and that the NHA has more resources to manage and improve the road network.
