Pakistan’s New Tourism Plan Faces Opposition in Gilgit-Baltistan
The Pakistan government has set up a new company to develop tourism, but this move may harm the local economy in Gilgit-Baltistan. The plan, recommended by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), involves establishing a state-owned enterprise to develop tourism infrastructure across Pakistan.
Under this plan, a new government-owned company has been granted 120 tourism sites across various regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), through government-to-government agreements. However, 44 of these sites have been allocated to Green Tourism Limited, a company associated with Pakistan’s military, on a 30-year lease.
This move aims to foster sustainability and inclusiveness but has sparked significant opposition in Gilgit-Baltistan. Critics, including citizens, religious groups, and civil society organisations, fear that leasing these sites to Green Tourism Limited will exclude locals from participating in the tourism economy. The military’s involvement has heightened concerns, given its historical influence in Pakistan’s political and economic spheres.
Locals argue that the initiative undermines their economic opportunities in tourism, which was already thriving with existing private investments. They emphasise the need for transparent and inclusive decision-making processes involving local stakeholders. There is widespread belief among local leaders that acquiring tourist sites and public lands without local consent is unconstitutional and threatens indigenous control over resources and livelihoods.
Critics view the allocation of sites to Green Tourism Limited as exploitative and detrimental to sustainability efforts. For instance, concerns have been raised about the leasing of Deosai Plains, disregarding previous agreements and consultations with local communities. The initiative’s impact on GB’s economy, already burdened by infrastructure gaps and poverty, is seen as potentially regressive.
Social media has become a platform for widespread dissent, with protests mounting against perceived economic disenfranchisement and extractive policies.
Doubts Revealed
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a country in South Asia, located next to India.
Tourism -: Tourism is when people travel to different places for fun, to see new things, and learn about different cultures.
Gilgit-Baltistan -: Gilgit-Baltistan is a region in northern Pakistan, known for its beautiful mountains and landscapes.
Leasing -: Leasing means renting something for a long time. In this case, it means renting land for 30 years.
Green Tourism Limited -: Green Tourism Limited is a company that is connected to the military in Pakistan and is involved in developing tourism.
Military -: The military is a group of people who are trained to protect and defend a country.
Critics -: Critics are people who do not agree with something and express their concerns or objections.
Civil groups -: Civil groups are organizations made up of regular people who work together to address common issues and concerns in their community.
Transparent decision-making -: Transparent decision-making means making decisions in a way that is open and clear so everyone can see and understand what is happening.
Resources -: Resources are things that people use to live and work, like land, water, and money.
Livelihoods -: Livelihoods are the ways people earn money and support themselves and their families.