Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Facts about GB (Gilgit Baltistan)

Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoK) is composed of Gilgit-Baltistan Region, and Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions of the former Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir.

Salient features of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)

Total Area of PoK: 85,793 sq. kilometer

Administrative Divisions:
Two, namely Mirpur-Muzaffarabad (referred to as Azad Jammu & Kashmir or AJK by Pakistan) and Federally Administered Gilgit-Baltistan (FAGB).

Area of Gilgit-Baltistan in the current shape: 74,600 sq. km

Area of Gilgit-Baltistan occupied by China before 1963: 19,313 sq. km

Area of Gilgit-Baltistan ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963: 5,800 sq. km

Area of occupied Chitral: 14,850 sq. kilometer

Area of occupied Shinaki-Kohistan: 5,398 sq. kilometer

Gilgit-Baltistan was previously referred to by Pakistan as the Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). It is the northernmost political entity within the Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoK) and is under direct control of federal government of Pakistan. The region borders Ladakh (and Tibet) to its east; Xinjiang to its north; Afghanistan and Tajikistan to its north-west; Chitral to its west; Dir, Swat, Kohistan and Kaghan districts of NWFP to its south while AJK and the Kashmir Valley lie to its south-east. The Dogras of Jammu & Kashmir amalgamated Baltistan with Ladakh and brought under the Jammu province, while Gilgit Agency, Gilgit Wazarat, Gilgit Tehsil, Chilas, Ghizer, Hunza-Nagar and Darel-Tangir were ruled as part of Kashmir province.

Salient Features of FAGB:

Area of FAGB: 74,600 sq. kilometer

Population: Approximately two million including almost 300,000 people as part of Diaspora living in different cities of Pakistan

Capital: Gilgit

Districts: seven

Baltistan Region is divided into Gangche and Skardo districts

Gilgit Region is divided into Astore, Diamer, Ghizer, Hunza-Nagar and Gilgit districts

Ethnic Groups: Shin, Balti, Burushu, Puriki, Ladakhi, Wakhi, Yashkun, Tibetan, Mongol, Tatar, Mon, Khowar, Dom, Gujjar and Kashmiri

Religious Groups: Shia (Twelvers), Nurbakhshi (Twelvers), Shia-Ismaili, Sunni, and Ahlehadith

Languages: Shina, Balti, Wakhi, Khowar, Gujjari, Burushaski, Puriki, Kashmiri

Literacy rate: 15% male; 3.5% female (World Bank estimates of 1997)

Per Capita Income: Per capita per annum income of Gilgit-Baltistan is around one-fourth of Pakistan’s average (US$264 compared to Pakistan’s US$ 1,071).

State of Infrastructure: More than two-thirds of the villages lack potable water, electricity, telephone, health units, girls’ schools, paved roads, ration depot, and pony tracks.

No comments:

Post a Comment