With numerous remote valleys separated by some of the world's highest mountains, the people of the region consist of many different groups, being linguistically, ethnically, religiously, and racially miscellaneous.

1. Area Profile Northern Areas of Pakistan

2. Northern Areas: Topographical Map

3. Northern Areas PakistanGeography , Culture & Issues

5. There are as many as 100 peaks ranging from 5,484 meters to the World’s second highest peak K-2 (8,607 meter). Over 40 glaciers, some of them biggest outside the polar region have also been identified. Once referred to as Bam-e-Dunya or “Roof of the World” today this part is known as Northern Areas (NAs) of Pakistan. The area is one of the most difficult terrains in the World.

6. The NAs is Federally Administrated with its Headquarters in Gilgit and is divided into six (6) Administrative Districts viz. Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Skardu and Ghanche. There are 6 municipalities, 13 Sub-Divisions, 20 Tehsils, 102 Union Councils and over 700 villages (mauzas).

9. Sustainable resource management and development

10. Preservation of biodiversity

11. Bringing the populace in developmental mainstream

12. Livelihood and skill enhancement

13. Health, Education and other up to time amenities that our age offers

14. Preservation of socio-cultural heritage and eco-tourism In the face of worsening environmental and socio-developmental issues, advocacy media initiatives are direly needed along with awareness building by civil society organization and developmental steps of government.

16. The literacy rate in Northern Areas is 24.17% with female literacy rate at 13.71%. The Baseline Survey conducted for the Northern Health Program in 1999 showed the infant mortality rate (IMR) 70/1000 live births. Out of the total population 48 % are under 15 years. The average age at marriage for females is 20.26 years.

17. The average household size for the Northern Areas as a whole is 8 persons in 1998. The main source of lighting is electricity which is used by 61 % of households. The second main source of lighting is kerosene oil which is used by 35 % of the households. The remaining 4 % use other sources for lighting. About 90% of the households use wood for cooking.

18. national census (1998) unfolds that, the population – all Muslim – was 870,347 but it is now estimated at 1.5 million. Gilgit is the political and administrative headquarters; other important areas include Skardu, the headquarters of the army’s Northern Light Infantry (NLI) regiment, and Diamer district, a citadel of Sunni orthodoxy in an otherwise Shia-majority region.

20. Instead of making Pakistan’s grip on the Northern Areas more secure, the denial of basic rights and representative institutions through which to express grievances has led many, particularly youth, to turn in frustration to radical sectarian groups. “The denial of rights has created bitterness, frustration and resentment, emotions that have found an outlet through bigotry and fanaticism”, said a young politician in Gilgit. The military’s reliance on Sunni jihadi groups to fight its proxy wars in Afghanistan and Kashmir has made the Northern Areas, geographically contiguous to Indian-administered Kashmir, a base and training ground for Sunni militants, fuelling in turn sectarian tensions in the Shia-majority region.

22. If we examine Northern Areas (Nas) history as part of British India’s northern frontier and their association with the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, we could analyses the implications of Pakistan’s policy of linking constitutional and political status to a resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Examining the governance structures put in place by Islamabad, we can assess , from this point of reference, the implications of political disempowerment on political stability and sectarian violence in the region.

23. Pakistan’s rationale in linking the Northern Areas with Jammu and Kashmir and treating the region as part of the disputed territory is based on the premise that the overwhelming majority in the Northern Areas would vote in its favour if and when a plebiscite were held to determine Kashmir’s future. retaining the Kashmir proviso. The precedent is there and could be applied in our case as well”.

25. The Baseline Survey conducted by AbdurRahman Associates for the Northern Health Project has revealed that Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARI) and diarrhoea remained one of the major killers of children contributing 28% and 14% mortality respectively. Also, anaemia among women was found common.

26. Baseline Survey of Northern Health Project has also indicated that more than 47% women did not receive antenatal care, and Tetanus Toxoid Immunization was not provided to 38.9%.The number is extremely higher (79.3%) in district Diamer, whereas over 80% deliveries were taking place at home.

27. Women of the area also suffered a lot due to un-spaced and frequent births, which was also one of the major contributing factors of death among women of Northern Areas. A major reason for diseases is unsafe drinking water. Only 30 percent of the villages have access to safe water.

29. Currently it is providing health services through 353 total health facilities which include 3 District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs), 22 Civil Hospitals, 8 Rural Health Centers, 16 Basic Health Units, 55 MCH centers, 103 Dispensaries and 146 First Aid Posts.

30. Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP) and Marie Adelaide Foundation (MAF) are some lead contributors to the health sector of NAs There are about 15 small local NGOs, which are also engaged in the delivery of MCH services in the selected areas. These NGOs were provided financial assistance under the Northern Health Program Project.

31. FPAP is assisting both the Department of Health and NGOs in the supply of contraceptives and training to paramedic personnel.

33. There are no institutions for technical education. So, the people of the areas remain not only uneducated but unemployed. It goes without saying that the existing situation of education have potential to have negative impacts on our global image and unemployed youth could become a helping hand for extremist and radical forces.

34. The newly created Karakoram International University is not fully functional yet. There is also a shortage of teachers. The seats reserved by the federal government for students of the Northern Areas in professional colleges have been clubbed together with the seats reserved for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is alleged that the students from FATA due to better educational opportunities get seats not in proportion to their population.

36. Women’s Rights: HRCP reports that Family Laws applicable in Pakistan had not been extended to the Northern Areas, as a result women are forced to take family matters to civil courts.

37. Dams and Electricity: Proposed Skardu Dam, would completely submerge Skardu City and destroy major portion of the Balti Culture. There is consensus amongst the people of Northern Areas that the Skardu Dam should not be constructed.