The recently held elections have given the people of Gilgit-Baltistan every reason to celebrate. Finally, a transformative political moment has arrived for one of Pakistan's most breathtaking yet historically underserved regions.
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), which undoubtedly is the party of Ta'meer, Taraqqi, Khushhali (construction, progress, prosperity), has secured a meaningful parliamentary bloc in GB's assembly, with four elected members and two others on reserved seats. The party’s candidates collectively secured around 100,000 votes in the June election. Moreover, its runners-up fell short by the narrowest of margins.
This in itself is a remarkable achievement, considering that the party contested its first GB election, that too with a short campaign period and limited organisational infrastructure in the region. This is an active endorsement cast by the locals, who looked at the IPP's vision of development, prosperity, and honest governance, and said, “This is the party for us.”
Now, the party is set to be a key partner in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government for the region. This is the beginning of a new chapter for the mountains, valleys, and people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Built for Development
Ever since its foundation on June 8, 2023, the IPP continues to move with remarkable speed and purpose. In a short span of three years, it has gone from a nascent political force to the sixth-largest party in Pakistan's National Assembly, with seats spanning Lahore and Khushab, and now a growing foothold in Gilgit-Baltistan. What sets it apart from other political parties is that it is focused. Its entire identity is built around a single, clear vision: development-led governance for the people.
The IPP's manifesto is nothing short of a development blueprint specifically designed for the 21st century. It includes free education and scholarships, technical training centers, interest-free loans for youth and women, industrial zones for small businesses, and modern transport for seniors, women, and students. These commitments are rooted in a belief that a government must deliver tangible results to real people.
Abdul Aleem Khan: A Builder in Every Sense
Leading the IPP is its President and Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, whose life story stands as a powerful testament to the achievements of determined and principled effort.
As the founder of Vision Group, Abdul Aleem Khan knows how to turn blueprints into buildings. As the minister overseeing Pakistan's national highways and motorways, he has already delivered on his reputation for results. Under his watch, key sections of M-4 (Pindi Bhattian–Faisalabad) have been upgraded to three lanes, the long-stalled Karachi–Sukkur M6 Motorway has been revived with ADB financing, and Lahore's motorway network is being expanded to six-lane standards.
This man will now, through IPP's role in GB's government, bring his infrastructure-first, people-centred approach to Pakistan's Northern Crown.
What IPP's Partnership Means for GB
Gilgit-Baltistan's single greatest bottleneck has always been connectivity. Its awe-inspiring mountains have also been its walls, cutting off communities, deterring tourists, and isolating farmers from markets. The IPP and Abdul Aleem Khan have already begun dismantling those walls.
As federal minister, Abdul Aleem Khan has approved and advanced several critical GB road projects, which include the 54km Astore to Chilam Chowki Road, the 31km Deosai to Skardu link road, surveys for the Skardu–Deosai Road, and reconstruction of the Upper Kachura–Basho and Shigar roads. Upgrades to the Karakoram Highway and allied routes that unlock GB's remote valleys are firmly in the party's vision. With the IPP now seated at the government table in GB itself, one can expect these commitments to gain even greater urgency and follow-through.
Faster, safer roads mean more tourists, lower accident rates, better supply chains, and year-round access to communities that have long faced seasonal isolation.
Tourism: Turning Beauty into Prosperity
From Hunza to Skardu, the Deosai Plains, K2, and Rakaposhi, Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the most spectacular places on earth, and people around the world are already falling in love with these names. The IPP recognises that GB's greatest economic asset lies in its landscape, and is committed to turning that natural inheritance into broad-based prosperity.
Better roads and investment in hospitality infrastructure, digital connectivity at tourist sites, adventure tourism hubs, and sustainable eco-tourism frameworks could multiply visitor numbers many times over. That would generate jobs in guiding, hotels, transport, handicrafts, and food services. The IPP's presence in government means there is now a party specifically committed to this agenda, with the federal connections to bring the resources to make it happen.
Powering GB's Future
Gilgit-Baltistan sits atop one of the world's most impressive hydroelectric potentials, most of which remains untapped. The IPP's national manifesto is explicit and focuses on building new dams to accelerate hydropower, bringing clean electricity to every household. In coalition, the party will be a consistent advocate for channelling PSDP funds and CPEC-linked investment into GB's hydro projects and solar expansion.
Agriculture and Horticulture
The region’s apricots, cherries, potatoes, and walnuts are among the finest in the world, but that bounty rots on the vine due to poor roads, lack of cold-chain infrastructure, and limited market access. The IPP's commitment to interest-free loans, technical training, and farm-to-market connectivity offers a direct pathway to transforming GB's agricultural sector from subsistence farming to a thriving export economy that puts money in local pockets.
Given the IPP’s tract record, the political force knows that infrastructure without human capital is hollow. The party's manifesto prioritises free education, scholarships, and vocational training, which means the region’s youth will soon be equipped with skills in IT, tourism, and technical trades. Coupled with entrepreneurial loans, the initiatives will put a cap on brain drain and build the region from within.
Nothing But Development
The IPP's entry into Gilgit-Baltistan’s PPP-led government guarantees development, stability, and the welfare of ordinary citizens. The party’s development agenda and federal leverage through Abdul Aleem Khan's ministerial role is set to deliver for the region in ways that have never been possible before.
People of GB Deserve This Moment
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have waited long enough, and what they are about to witness the region's potential getting unlocked through new, reliable infrastructure as well as investment in all its forms. Now, through IPP's role in government, they witness how a party that is young, energetic, results-driven, and led by one of Pakistan's most accomplished builder-statesmen transforms their lives.
The mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan have always been there. Now, at last, the political will to match their greatness is arriving too. Congratulations, Gilgit-Baltistan. Your moment is here!
