09/09/2026
Development Studies Students Undertake Exposure Visits to Key Institutions in Gilgit-Baltistan
Hunza | September 08, 2026 β The final-year students of the Department of Development Studies (BS-DS), Karakoram International University (KIU), Hunza Campus, undertook a series of academic exposure visits to key development institutions in Gilgit-Baltistan as part of their experiential learning activities. The delegation was led by Dr. Rehmat Karim, Director, KIU Hunza Campus, and included Amjad Ali, Head of the Department of Development Studies, Syed Saqib Hussain Shah and Alamgir, Faculty Members of the campus.
The delegation first visited the Economic Transformation Initiative Gilgit-Baltistan (ETI-GB), Planning & Development Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. The students were warmly received by Mr. Barkat Ali, Deputy Program Coordinator, Mr. Ghulam Abbas, Lead Value Chain Specialist, and other members of the ETI-GB team. Mr. Barkat Ali provided a comprehensive orientation on the objectives, interventions, implementation mechanisms, and development impacts of ETI-GB across Gilgit-Baltistan. The students actively participated in an engaging question-and-answer session and showed keen interest in understanding the programme's contribution to economic transformation and livelihoods in the region. The interaction also generated considerable interest among students in pursuing academic and research work on ETI-GB interventions.
The delegation subsequently visited the Core Office of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), where they were warmly welcomed by Mr. Waseem Abbas, Head of Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Manager Communications. Mr. Waseem Abbas delivered a detailed presentation on AKRSP's development interventions and its contribution to rural development, livelihoods, community empowerment, and institutional development in Gilgit-Baltistan. The students actively engaged in the discussion and raised various questions regarding development practices, monitoring and evaluation, and the sustainability of development interventions.
The final visit was to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA), where the students attended an Assembly session, observed legislative proceedings, and interacted with elected representatives. The visit provided valuable practical insights into governance, policymaking, legislative processes, and the role of elected institutions in regional development.
The exposure visits provided students with an opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world development practices, strengthening their understanding of development planning, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, governance, and policymaking in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Department of Development Studies, KIU Hunza Campus, appreciates ETI-GB, AKRSP, and the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly for their warm hospitality and valuable engagement with the students.
Karakoram International University
Karakoram International University, Hunza Campus, GB