Says Gilgit-Baltistan is Pakistan’s crown, northern gateway and symbol of enduring friendship with China
President Asif Ali Zardari addresses the keynote ceremony marking Gilgit-Baltistan’s 78th Independence Day. Photo: PID
President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the freedom enjoyed by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan serves as a reminder of the unfinished struggle of their ‘brothers and sisters’ in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The President spoke on Saturday for the 78th Independence Day. The ceremony commemorates the liberation of the region from Dogra rule. The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and highlighted GB’s role in national defense and regional relations.
“You have guarded the borders, promoted progress and carried Pakistan’s flag to the highest peaks of the world,” Zardari said after inspecting the ceremonial parade. “This region is not only Pakistan’s crown, but also our northern gateway, a symbol of enduring friendship with China.”
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Describing the Karakoram Highway as a “living memory” of the Pakistan-China partnership, he said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had opened up new avenues for trade and livelihood. He emphasized that its benefits must “reach every valley and every village”.
Paying tribute to the martyrs of the British freedom movement, the president said the region had ‘won its own freedom and chosen to join Pakistan’. However, he added that the occasion also drew attention to the ongoing repression in the IIOJK.
“While you are enjoying freedom and rights under the flag of Pakistan, the people of IIOJK are continuing occupation and oppression,” he said. “Pakistan stands with them until they achieve freedom in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and their aspirations.”
President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the key ceremony marking Gilgit-Baltistan’s 78th Independence Day and inspected the guard of honour. He praised the spirit of the people and reaffirmed the determination to make GB a model of development and equality. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/8qIuu3iJkr
— President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) 1 November 2025
Zardari also highlighted the region’s potential in the tourism, hydropower, education and health sectors, hinting at improved connectivity – including the possibility of a regional airline – to increase accessibility and economic growth.
Earlier, the President was welcomed by Governor GB and Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan. A traditional cap was presented to the President before the parade ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Gulbar Khan said that the people of the region remained patriotic and peaceful and that the sacrifices of their forefathers continued to inspire them. He recalled that on November 1, 1947, ‘the people of Gilgit-Baltistan freed themselves from Dogra rule without external help and merged with Pakistan on the basis of faith’.
President Asif Ali Zardari said that PPP has always served the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and will continue this tradition. “Gilgit-Baltistan may be new to others but not to us,” he remarked while talking about the PPP GB chapter in Gilgit. pic.twitter.com/MBrdeDGHFC
— President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) 1 November 2025
He said integrating the region more effectively into the national mainstream would fulfill long-standing public aspirations and ‘defeat the malicious designs of Pakistan’s adversaries’. He added that the government prioritized equitable resource distribution and development of underserved areas.
He urged the citizens to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs and continue working towards ‘a united, prosperous and economically strong Gilgit-Baltistan’.
