From Trophy Hunting to Mining: Can GB’s New Government Build Pakistan’s Next Global Success Story?

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is at a crossroads, with its new government facing the challenge of transitioning the region's economy from traditional practices like trophy hunting to modern mining, aiming to build Pakistan's next global success story. Historically, GB's unique legal, ecological, and cultural landscape was governed by customary institutions regulating the use of land, forests, water, and mountain resources, where communities collectively stewarded their territories. The article explores whether the new government can effectively navigate this shift, balancing the region's rich customary systems with modern economic development, and how this transformation could impact Pakistan. This initiative is significant because it represents a potential major economic development for Pakistan, leveraging GB's natural resources while also posing challenges related to governance and environmental impact.