GILGIT BALTISTAN

Glaciers and snow are major resource of Gilgit Baltistan. The melted water from snow fields and glaciers enters streams, which feed manmade channels and take water to settlements for agriculture, livestock and domestic requirements. The main strength of the economy of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) depends largely on dry fruits and agriculture. This area is famous for its almond, apricot, cherry and other dry fruits production in the world, but the most popular fruit is almond; a huge variety of almonds is found in all districts of GB.

Gilgit-Baltistan produces about 120,650 tons of almonds per year. Agriculture productivity is generally low due to poor access to quality inputs, & huge losses in 45% for apricot and 10% for potato, due to poor access to markets.

Gilgit-Baltistan, perhaps the most immediate and serious impact is on water availability in undulated barren lands (thin soil, sand or rocks) in agriculture fields .The demand and expectations for more water, more food and more of everything are soaring is global and regional concern as well as exist in Gilgit-Baltistan.

For further details regarding NPIWC-II project in the province, kindly visit On-Farm Water Management Directorate General Gilgit Baltistan portal below.

Directorate of Water Management

COMPONENTS	TARGETS
Improvement of WC (20 years old+ Additional lining	– – – –
New watercourses	2,500
Total watercourses	2,500
Water storage tanks	825
Laser land leveler	5