Strengthening Civil Society of Gilgit-Baltistan (A Case study of The Northern Areas of Pakistan)

Abstract: This study analyses explore to the paths of constructing and strengthening of civil society organizations and their activities in Gilgit-Baltistan, the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The focus is on the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) since the 1980s. A conceptual framework of civil society and NGO activities and nexus is developed. The empirical analysis is based on NGO documents and interviews with communities and NGOs personnel. Initially, civil society activities focused on availability of physical infrastructure, community development through public- private policy ventures and educational programmes etc. Later the working of NGOs has focused more on issues like gender sensitization, and community empowerment through participatory approaches, etc. These projects are further supported at grassroots level by the establishment a series of community organizations, which work on voluntary basis under the umbrella of project funded NGOs or joint venture programs of GoP and NGOs.