Askole receives season's first snowfall as winter sets in
The snow arrived later than usual, and residents have begun stocking firewood and winter food while tourism workers expect a busy season.
Askole, the last village in Gilgit-Baltistan, has received its first snowfall of the season, ARY News reported, ending a long dry spell in the upper valley and marking the start of winter there.
The outlet said the snow arrived later than usual this year, and that the delay had made the dry cold harsher for residents. The first fall covered the valley floor and the mountains around it.
Villagers came out as the snow began, and younger residents were the most visibly pleased, according to ARY News. The report said demand has risen for traditional winter food, for qahwa, the local tea, for warm clothing and for firewood.
ARY News reported that tourists from other parts of the country have started travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan after hearing of the snowfall, and that hotel owners and others working in tourism expect a good season. The outlet described the winter tourism season as under way with the first snow.
The report said government and local authorities had completed preparations to deal with any emergency during the season and to maintain the roads. It did not name the departments or officials responsible, describe the measures, or say which roads are affected.
ARY News said the Biafo, Baltoro and Batura glaciers, which it described as among the longest outside the polar regions, are located in the area, and that glaciers there supply a significant share of Pakistan's water.
The report gave no snowfall measurement, no weather warning and no road status for Askole or the Shigar valley route that serves it. No resident or official was named or quoted.
Askole lies in Shigar district, in the Baltistan division.
NDMA warns of heavy rain, snowfall and smog across Pakistan
The alert names Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir for overcast weather and mountain snowfall, and flags landslide risk on hill roads.
Met Office forecasts rain and snow across north until November 14
A westerly system entered Pakistan on November 10, with snowfall expected at higher elevations in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and Punjab rain due on November 12 and 13.
Murree activates winter safety plan for snowfall season
Nineteen facilitation centres, 181 Safe City cameras and more than 20 snow-clearing vehicles will cover Murree and Galiyat from 15 December to 15 February.
Met Office forecasts dry weather, snow on northern hills
Skardu recorded a maximum of 0°C in the past 24 hours, second only to Leh's minus 3°C in the Met Department's table, as Gilgit-Baltistan stays partly cloudy and cold.
Ishaq Dar directs new GB and AJK governments to speed up projects
The deputy prime minister chaired a review meeting in Islamabad with the Kashmir Affairs ministry and asked officials to coordinate closely with both regional governments.
Ten killed as passenger van falls into Yasin river
Express News reports three women were among the dead and two passengers were injured when the van went out of control near Morakah bridge in Ghizer district.
Naqvi assures Gilgit-Baltistan of federal support on security, development
The interior minister told Chief Minister Amjad Hussain that tourist arrivals in the region have risen sharply and that tourism promotion would create local jobs.
Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister seeks foreign investment in mining
Amjad Hussain told a two-day minerals forum in Islamabad that the region's metals, precious minerals, dimension stones and placer gold are largely unexplored.