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The Northern Region of Pakistan
The forgotten Himalayas:

The mountain ranges:
When we hear the name Himalaya we often only think of Nepal and Mount Everest. It is easy to forget that the Himalayan mountain range is vast and spans across a wide array of countries including; Bhutan, India, China, and Pakistan.

The North West of Pakistan borders the outskirts of the Himalayas which are marked by the very low Indo-Gangetic plain. The mountain range varies in width from 350 KM in the west to 150 KM in the east. Pakistan calls home to the ninth highest peak in the world, the resting places for Nanga Parbat Which is 8126 m high, as well as partially home to mountain ranges including the Karakoram, Which consists of the world’s second highest peak K2 (8611 m). Within the Northern parts of Pakistan, more than half of the summits are over 4,500 Meters, and more than 50 peaks reach above 6,500 Meters. The North of Pakistan borders China, Tajikistan, and India, whilst inhabiting Pakistani provinces including Gilgit, Skarsgard as well as the political disputed areas of Kashmir all marking the outskirts of the Himalayas. South of the northern highlands are the Safed Koh Range and the Sulaiman Range and Kirthar Range which mark the borders of the province of Sind. The beautiful mountainous Terrain is outlined by the Indus river, the Indus river is the longest river in Pakistan, the river runs a 3200 kilometer starting at the Tibetan Plateau through Kashmir and the Northern Highlands all the way down to Karachi and into the Arabian sea.

Weather and climate
In the vast landscape of Pakistan, the climate is sub-tropical. However, the Northern Highlands display different whether conditions. The mountain ranges surrounding the Himalayas produce cold and windy terrain as accompanied by stormy weather year-round

SKARDU
Skardu is located at 2200 m above sea level, it is the starting point for ascending the K2 and several other peaks at 8000 m. The climate is arid Continental ranging from -2.5°in January 24° in July. With up to 25 cm of rainfall annually.

KASHMIR
Kashmir is located in the northernmost valleys of Khyber - Pakistan. The north of Kashmir consists of the lower parts of the Himalayas, including the Jamagarta peak which sits at 4,734 m.Weather in Kashmir is suboptimal. With desert-like rain of 250 mm and high snowfall.

GILGIT BALTISTAN
Gilgit Baltistan Is the administrative of the territory of Pakistan that borders the disputed Kashmir. Climate and weather conditions of Gilgit Baltistan vary based on region due to the immense size of the province. Areas surrounded by mountain ranges create variation in weather from dry to moist climates. The capital city of Gilgit Baltistan is Gilgit. In Gilgit, The average highest temperature reaches 36.2° in July whilst the lowest hits average temperatures of -2.7° in January.

Geological history of the North
The formation of mountains can be traced to a series of earth movement resulting from conditions between the Indian ocean in the region of tonic plates 50 million years ago. Powerful lateral thrust acting from the direction of Tibet towards the stable Crystalline blocks of being in the peninsula in the south. 130 million years ago India was just an island which began to drift off due to the movement of tectonic plates. This eventually closed up the Tethys ocean. The continuous drift of India resulted in the Islands collision with Asia resulting in the convergence between tectonic plates resulting in subduction. The subduction formed of a collision zone, ultimately resulting in folding and growth of the mountain terrain as well as a forceful rising of the Tibetan plateau. Inevitably, producing Thousands of earthquakes causing the mountain range to rise 7200 feet above sea level.

Gilgit Baltistan
The northern region of Pakistan is home to the Hunza also known as the Brusho people that reside in the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan. Brusho people were initially native to northwestern India, yet following the India-Pakistan separation and the movements of Indo-Aryans were relocated to their current dwelling. majority of them are Ismaili Muslim, Ismaili Muslims are characterised by practices alternative to mundane and stereotypical Muslim traditions. Northern natives speak Burushaski, whose origins are unknown. A research study by Dr. John Clark who lived amongst Hunza people for 20 months reported in his 1956 book titled ‘Hunza - Lost Kingdom of the Himalayas’ addressed the terrible health conditions amongst the locals. In 20 months he saw 5.684 patients and most of his patients had malaria, dysentery, worms, trachoma, and other health conditions due to unsanitary and suboptimal weather and living conditions.

life in Kashmir
Kashmir within Pakistani borders has always been a region of serious long-lasting conflict. It was named “Azad Kashmir” which translates to “liberal Kashmir” in 1948 after UN intervention. Azad Kashmir, is a Self-governing State under Pakistani control, But under Pakistan’s Constitution the state is officially apart of the country, since the 1949 UN-mandated ceasefire between Pakistan and the rival country of India. Azad Kashmir has a mostly predominantly Muslim population. According to the 2017 census the population of Kashmir is 4.5 million whilst the literacy rate is 74% with the enrolment rate being 90% of boys and 90% of girls. The official languages of the last English is taught and practiced.

History of the kashmir conflict
The Indo-Pak conflict dates back to 1947 when the partition of the Indian subcontinent formed along the religious lines led to the formation of India and Pakistan. Yet the unprecedented dispute resulted in the confusion and ambiguity of over 650 states that ran across the border. Leaving the unclaimed states with the option of deciding whether to join India or Pakistan. yet, because of its location, Kashmir could choose to join either India or Pakistan, whilst the ruler of Kashmir who was Hindu chose to remain neutral as despite his own dogma. Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir, was Hindu while most of his subjects were Muslim.

However, his initial ply to remain neutral was nullified in October 1947 when Pakistan sent in Muslim tribesmen who forcefully aimed to convert the singular state to conceit to Pakistani rule. The Hindu ruler of Kashmir, Hari Singh, appealed to the Indian government for military assistance and escaped to India where he signed the Instrument of Accession, ceding Kashmir to India on October 26.

For the next year from 1947-1948, the Indo-Pak conflict was at its peak until India referred the dispute to the United Nations on 1 January 1949. In which the UN asked both  Pakistan and India to remove troops and leave Kashmir under a "free and fair" clause where it would decide its future for itself. Where a ceasefire was agreed, with 65 percent of the territory under Indian control and the remainder with Pakistan.The ceasefire was intended to be temporary but the Line of Control remains as a de facto border between the two countries. In 1957, Kashmir was formally incorporated into the Indian Union yet fighting broke out again in 1965, but a ceasefire was established that September. Attacks of conflict and dispute continued until 1972 when Indira Gandhi, the Indian prime minister, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Pakistani opposition, signed the Simla Agreement in the hopes of achieving peace. Kashmir was divided into ‘Azad Kashmir’ which resides within Pakistan and ‘Kashmir’ which is incorporated within the Indian constitution.

Kashmir makes up 86,000-square on the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Due to its controversial geographic location, it has fallen victim to the India and Pakistan dispute. Conflict over the ownership of Kashmir has continued since 1947 when both countries gained independence.The violence from ongoing conflict has killed more than 47,000 people, which does not include people who have disappeared due to the conflict. Some human rights groups and put the death toll at twice that amount after accounting for all the displaced and missing persons. The Line of Control separating India and Pakistan grants India 86, 000 square miles of Kashmir, approximately 45% whilst Pakistan resides in the 35% made up of 345 square miles. China resides authority over 20% of Kashmir in an area called Aksai Chin in the northeastern part of the region. Srinagar is the summer capital city in Jammu and Kashmir state. Jammu is the winter capital whilst the capital of Azad Kashmir is Muzaffarabad.

Economy
Pakistan currently has the second largest economy in South Asia, after India. Pakistan's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.8 percent in 2017-18, the highest in 13 years. With suboptimal climate and conditions. only one-fifth of Pakistan can be used for agriculture and farming, although cultivation is infrequent in the mountains up north and desert in the south. However, the Indus river basin provides fertile soil enables Pakistan to feed its population under usual climatic conditions. Areas surrounding the Indus river are agriculture hotspots. Kashmir is characterised by its green fields and crops. Hence, is finely suited for crops like cabbage, artichoke, broad beans, seakale, beetroot. As Well as fruit trees in the valley that farm cherry, walnut, apples, and birch.During the time of independence the main source of Pakistan's economy primarily agricultural, as despite having only one-fifth of the country suitable for crops, the mass production of outputs deemed successful. Now the economic field has become increasingly more diversified. Agriculture, now no longer the largest sector yet still contributes significantly to one-fifth of GDP, while manufacturing provides about one-sixth.

Tourism
Tourism is popular up north near Murree. Murree is a mountain resort town, located in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range, within the Rawalpindi District of Punjab, Pakistan. Situated 30 km northeast of Islamabad. It has an average altitude of 2,291 meters.Here locals are very friendly and welcoming to outside tourists. Tourist attractions including; cable carts, markets, and cultural restaurants are established to give onlookers a pleasant experience of the Himalayas.

Traveling deeper into the snowy mountainous areas towards K2 and higher peaks is dangerous and difficult due to the harsh climate and limited resources. Yet as of recently the Pakistan government is working to improve safety and de-barricade areas to increase tourism.

how to get to the northern region of Pakistan

The trek to the northern regions is very treacherous and requires meticulous and cautious planning. 100’s of tourist take the trek annually via bus. Yet steep and narrow roads that run along the mountainside prevent large and heavy buses from mountaineering through.

Many travel agencies including the mountain company offer tours through the kokarum range and towards K2. The mountain company offers a package which initiates with a flight to Skardu where holidayers are greeted with a spectacular view of the Karakoram range including breathtaking scenery of Nanga Parbat. After spending several nights in Skardu part takers take a jeep transport to the road head at Askole.The trek to the K2 base camp and Concordia takes upon a trekking route lined with rugged mountains all the way from Askole, the last village in the Braldu gorge, to Concordia.