Ghizer District

The Ghizer District is the northernmost district of Gilgit -Baltistan, which called the Northern Areas to September 2009 territory in northern Pakistan. Its capital is Gahkuch. The Ghizer district connects the cities of Gilgit and Chitral via the Shandur Pass. This district is a multiethnic district are spoken in the three languages: Khowar, Shina and Burushaski. It is also spoken in some areas of the town Ishkoman Wakhi.

Name

The name means Ghizer refugees in the language of Khowar or Chitrali. The Mehtars ( kings ) of Chitral forced the former inhabitants of Chitral to emigrate and settle in this region of Chitral to Gupis and were Gherz or Gherzic called. When Ali Bhutto, the former President of Pakistan abolished the monarchical system and instead introduced administrative districts, this district the name Ghizer was awarded.

History

The area was earlier dominated by Indian rajas ( princes ) of Yasin and Punial and later split between the Mehtars of Chitral and the Maharaja of Kashmir. After 1895 all Ghizer were incorporated in the Gilgit Agency and directly ruled by the British and not of Kashmir. The Rajas of Yasin Suleman Shah and Gohar Aman extended their dominion up to Gilgit and some rulers exercised power of Yasin to Gilgit from. After the death of Gohar Aman there was a conspiracy of the Maharaja of Kashmir, which was enough to Yasin and Modori and ended in debacle of Yasin.

Geography

The Ghizer district located in the extreme north of the country of Gilgit -Baltistan. It ranges from the Wakhan strip of land in the northwest to the northern border of China. To the west of the district borders the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Chitral district and ranges in the east to the city of Gilgit. The Diamir District is located in the south of Ghizer District, part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

The highest mountain in Ghizer District is Koyo to a height of 6871 m above sea level in the Hindu Kush, which lies on the border of Ghizer District and Chitral. Other important places are located in the valleys of Ishkoman and Yasin, others are Gupis, Chatorkhand, Ipos and Utz.

Gupis is an important part of Ghizer District for tourist activities. There are several villages such as Phunder and Khalti that offer the opportunity for trout fishing and accommodation in hotel.

Mountain passes

Since the area is a high mountain region, there are numerous mountain passes, the Karambar Pass, Chillinji Pass, Hayal Pass, Bichhar Pass, Darkot Pass and Naltar Pass on the border of Ghizer and Gilgit District. The Thoi Pass is Yarkon on the border of Ghizer and Chitral.

The largest river of Ghizer District is the Ghizer, also called Gilgit. It flows to the east of the town of Gupis. Its tributaries are the Karambar, Ishkoman, Phakora, and Hayal Yasin.

Language areas

The language is Burushaski in Yasin, Khowar is in Yasin, Gupis and Ishkoman, Shina is in Gupis and Punial and Wakhi is spoken in Ishkoman.