Daily Times April 11, 2021 Pakistan is set to elevate Gilgit Baltistan to provincial status. With this single move, Pakistan will be able to meet at least seven decades old demand of people of Gilgit-Baltistan to merge with main land constitutionally, secure vital geo-strategic route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and protect tourism, promote economic potential and push farther its water and energy interests (Bunji & Diamer-Bhasha Dam etc.). However, some quarters have raised objections to the move on varying narratives which need to be addressed. All stake holders including key political parties have agreed to the proposal of grant of provisional provincial status to the Gilgit Baltistan. This historic decision will meet the long term aspirations of people and will help address local concerns and issues of representation, by all means possible. In September 2020, the Government of Pakistan announced its intention to make Gilgit-Baltistan an interim province that had representation in the parliament. On November 1, 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that his government would give the provisional provincial status to the beautiful region blessed with vistas of nature making a tourists’ paradise. The government also issued a new political map on August 4, 2020, showing the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, as a disputed region awaiting settlement based on the United Nation Security Council resolution.