Seven Days Winter Festival in Gilgit Baltistan to Unveil the Regions Potential as Year Long Tourism Destination – by – Tazeen Akhtar

The most important sponsor for them is Serena Hotel Islamabad administration that has a vision of promoting tourism in its true sense with the national enthusiasm. Serena Hotels have facilities in GB according to international standard that help hold such activities.

Additional Chief Secretary Captain Mushtaq Ahmed was leading the presentation at Serena Hotels Islamabad on 07 Jan in Islamabad. Raja Nasir Ali Khan minister tourism GB, Secretary of Tourism, Sports, and Culture Asifullah Khan, Vice President Winter Sports Air Commodore (Retd) Shahid Nadeem, CEO Agha khan agency for habitat Nusrat Nasar, Minister for Tourism, Sports, and Culture, Ghulam Mohammad, Director Tourism GB Sajid Khan were also present.

The aim of the festival was shared to highlight the region’s potential as a year-round destination including hard winter season, starting with winter sports events in all ten districts with an emphasis on promoting National Ice Hockey Championships but when asked about which teams are participating from other cities of Pakistan or abroad, there was no answer.

All the bureaucrats were highlighting the natural beauty of GB. The picturesque view of Atabad Lake and the tails of Snow Leopard. They have made Atabad Lake and Snow leopard as the title of the festival for attraction of the participants but when asked that natural beauty is God given , what the GB government has done to develop the infrastructure for safe travel to the destinations in GB, again there was no answer. Additional Chief Secretary Mushtaq just said, ” We are not here to tell about the performance of GB government.”

1- What are the arrangements to provide a safe route to the sports site in harsh weather conditions that close the roads in NAs?

2- You are highlighting Snow Leopard in NAs GB here. Can you share how many are left there? What GB gov is doing to save them from extinction?

Embassy of Kyrgyzstan during the tenure of Ambassador Erik Beishembiev held some events in Islamabad to raise the awareness about the snow leopard conservation. This unique specie is almost extinct in real and remain in the stories and pictures only.

3- Secretary Asif Ullah Khan share story of a stream that was very clean and they would drink water from there but that is polluted now. I asked , ” Your government or your ministry have done anything to restore its cleanliness or not?

4- National or International – ok – but can you share the names of teams participating from other cities and provinces of Pakistan?

5- You have many national and international sponsors in this event. You had the same in your last event SarfaRanga few months ago and you held a press presentation at the same hall of Serena Hotels Islamabad. Then and now both times you are not sharing hard copes of the details of your presentation as to prove that you are working very economically. How much expenditures you have to do on few A-4 papers only?

6- Neither in SarfaRanga nor in this winter festival , you are taking anyone from Islamabad media onboard or invited with your arrangements to the event. Why ?

Unfortunately most of questions remained unanswered and the tone of the bureaucrats at the stage was proud and rude as a whole.

Additional CS took all questions but replied only one and that with no specific information about which are the routes to reach the destination and what arrangements are there to facilitate the participants and visitors. He said, ” Don’t Worry. Everything is fine and taken care of.” Thats it.

ACS gave one sentence answer to all other questions as ” We are not here to share the performance of GB government.”

A representative from Dawn shared that the number of tourists has declined in GB. He asked about the fee charged from foreign mountaineers. He questioned ,” A foreigner left his expedition in GB for the fee was out of his budget. Is there any cognition at GB gov about the structure of fee.?”

Secretary Asif Ullah Khan answered in strict manner with strong tone as, ” 1700 dollar is not high fee. Go to Nepal and India, they charge thousands of dollars. Our fee is less than them. We will not reduce the fee but we will raise it. Whoever want to come, can come, who ever can not afford , should not come in GB.”

Asif Ullah Khan linked the downfall of tourists in GB with Corona Pandemic. Here it will be worth mentioning that Corona not only killed many but it save many as well to hide their failures behind Corona. He claimed that GB received more than 100 thousand domestic tourists in last year. A figure not confirmed from any source other than the Secretary.

ACS Mushtaq shared that few mainstream media channels will be invited to the festival as official guests. He did not mention the names neither he could clear that when all arrangements already finalized and Discover Pakistan has already taken as media partner , why the other mainstream TV channels were not considered at the beginning. of the preparations.

The government media APP, PTV etc shared all good side of the event with reference to the minister and the officials that GB’s stunning beauty is to be unveiled at 7 day winter sports festival.This initiative follows the success of the Sarfa Ranga Skardu festival in autumn.

Despite being one of the world’s most beautiful regions, Gilgit-Baltistan faces under appreciation. The organizers aspire to dispel misconceptions and showcase the region’s potential as a premier winter sports destination.

Air Commodore (Retd) Shahid Nadeem shared, “The region is grappling with the global effects of climate change. The festival seeks not only to attract tourists but also to draw attention to the environmental challenges faced by Gilgit-Baltistan. The aim is to showcase the region’s prowess in winter sports and nurture athletes for international competitions like the Asian Games and the 2026 Olympic Games.”

Secretary Asifullah Khan said, “Gilgit-Baltistan is poised for even greater success. The collaboration between the government and private partners remains crucial for the continued success of such initiatives, ensuring that the region’s untapped potential is recognized on a global scale.

Winter Festival stands as a testament to the region’s determination to showcase its year-round beauty, promote winter sports, and create a positive global image. The event promises to be a blend of cultural richness, sportsmanship, and environmental awareness, inviting the world to explore the hidden gem that is Gilgit-Baltistan.

Snow leopard is the king that rules the snow-draped woods and the high alpine areas. It is fiercely powerful, adaptive, unintimidated, audacious extremely graceful, and possess the wholesomeness of beauty.

The logo of Sevendays is designed impeccably by taking into consideration the aura of winters in Gilgit Baltistan. The theme of Sevendays signifies the fact that cubs are blind at birth and they take Seven Days to open their eyes.

The yellow tint of the logo manifests the power, strength, and gracefulness of the leopard, also known as the black panther, which is the king animal of winter.

human actions are posing incredible threats to the existence of this treasured animal known as snow leopard. Nevertheless, through the platform of Sevendays winter feast and utilizing all other appropriate and available forums, the WWF, Parks and Wildlife, and the IUCN will gear up to run campaigns and drives for the conservation of this extremely precious animal.