He says Gilgit-Baltistan is the crown of Pakistan, the northern gate and the symbol of enduring friendship with China.
President Asif Ali Zardari addresses the central ceremony commemorating the 78th Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan. Photo: PID
President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the freedom enjoyed by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan serves as a reminder of the unfinished struggle of their “brothers and sisters” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The president addressed the 78th Independence Day ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony commemorated the liberation of the region from Dogra rule. The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and highlighted GB’s role in national defense and regional connectivity.
“You have guarded the borders, advanced progress and carried Pakistan’s flag to the highest peaks of the world,” Zardari said after inspecting the ceremonial parade. “This region is not only the crown of Pakistan but also our gateway to the north, a symbol of enduring friendship with China.”
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He described the Karakoram Highway as a “living memory” of the Pakistan-China partnership and said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had opened new avenues of trade and livelihood. He stressed that its benefits must ‘reach every valley and every town’.
Paying tribute to the martyrs of Britain’s freedom movement, the president said the region had “obtained its own freedom and had chosen to join Pakistan”. However, he added that the occasion also drew attention to the current repression in the IIOJK.
“While enjoying freedom and rights under the flag of Pakistan, the people of IIOJK continue to face occupation and repression,” he said. “Pakistan will support them until they achieve freedom in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and their aspirations.”
President Asif Ali Zardari delivered a speech at the central ceremony commemorating the 78th Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan and inspected the guard of honour. He praised the spirit of the people and reaffirmed the determination to make GB a model of development and equality. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/8qIuu3iJkr
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 1, 2025
Zardari also highlighted the region’s potential in the tourism, hydropower, education and healthcare sectors, suggesting better connectivity, including the possibility of a regional airline, to boost accessibility and economic growth.
Earlier, the President was received by Britain’s Governor and Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan. Before the parade ceremony, a traditional cap was presented to the president.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Gulbar Khan said that the people of the region remained patriotic and peaceful, and the sacrifices of their ancestors continued to inspire them. He recalled that on November 1, 1947, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan “liberated themselves from Dogra rule without outside help and merged with Pakistan on the basis of faith.”
President Asif Ali Zardari said that the PPP has always served the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and will continue this tradition. “Gilgit-Baltistan may be new to others, but not to us,” he said while addressing the PPP GB chapter in Gilgit. pic.twitter.com/MBrdeDGHFC
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 1, 2025
He said integrating the region more effectively into the national mainstream would fulfill long-standing public aspirations and “defeat the nefarious designs of Pakistan’s adversaries.” He added that the government was prioritizing equitable distribution of resources and development of neglected areas.
He urged citizens to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs and continue working for “a united, prosperous and economically strong Gilgit-Baltistan.”
