Pakistan’s Tourism Neglect Angers Locals in PoJK & Gilgit-Baltistan

PoJK/PoGB, 16-07-2025: - Despite boasting some of the most stunning natural landscapes, Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan continue to suffer from the government's neglect of tourism infrastructure. In a glaring instance of apathy, a popular waterfall spot that had organically developed into a source of livelihood for locals was recently razed by Pakistani authorities — despite a court-issued stay order. Locals who had invested lakhs of rupees and years of hard work to make the site accessible and attractive for visitors were not only evicted without warning but reportedly detained by the police during the demolition. Visitors from Gilgit-Baltistan have highlighted similar issues — complaining about narrow, broken roads, the absence of food stalls, and a complete lack of rest facilities. Tourists and locals alike have called for immediate intervention from tourism authorities, pointing out the lack of huts, rest stops, or even basic signage. Pakistan’s failure to invest in tourism infrastructure in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan reflects a broader pattern of neglect in these occupied regions. While locals take initiative and invest their own money to develop tourism sites, Islamabad’s response has been indifferent at best — and repressive at worst.