GILGIT: The government has announced a five-year ban on building new hotels near the lakes in northern Pakistan, aiming to safeguard the fragile environment of the region, as stated by a government agency.
Gilgit Baltistan, known for having nearly 13,000 glaciers, more than anywhere else outside the polar regions, is facing serious environmental issues due to uncontrolled hotel and guest house construction.
With its stunning scenery, towering mountains, and the famous Old Silk Road, the region attracts thousands of tourists each year.
However, the recent surge in construction, mostly driven by developers from outside the region, has placed heavy pressure on water and power supplies and has contributed to growing pollution and waste problems.
“If we let them construct hotels at such a pace, there will be a forest of concrete,” said Khadim Hussain, an official at the Gilgit Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority. “People don’t visit here to see concrete; people come here to enjoy natural beauty.”
Last month, a foreign visitor shared a video on Instagram that went viral, showing a hotel releasing wastewater into Lake Attabad, a key freshwater source in Hunza. Authorities fined the hotel over $5,000 the next day.
The move has been admired by local residents. Asif Sakhi, a political activist from Hunza Valley, said, “We have noticed rapid changes in the name of tourism and development,” adding that hotel construction was “destroying our natural lakes and rivers.”
Shah Nawaz, a hotel manager and resident of the valley, also supported the step, saying he believes “protecting the environment and natural beauty is everyone’s responsibility.