Youth–Adult Partnership in Gilgit-Baltistan: Ethical Leadership, Environmental Stewardship, and Sustainable Development in Pakistan

 Gojal Hunza Community. (n.d.). Volunteers from Khyber-Hunza community during a mountain cleanliness and environmental stewardship drive [Photograph]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Amgv4yWcs

Youth–adult partnership (Y-AP) in Pakistan, particularly across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), represents an exemplary model of ethical leadership, inclusive development, and community resilience. By combining the creativity, energy, and digital fluency of youth with the experience, wisdom, and historical knowledge of adults, these partnerships address contemporary challenges in one of the most ecologically sensitive and culturally diverse regions of Pakistan. Across GB, initiatives such as plantation campaigns, mountain cleanliness drives, community-based tourism, and digital literacy programs demonstrate how intergenerational collaboration enhances social cohesion, environmental stewardship, and adaptive capacity. Hunza, in particular, exemplifies the intersection of rich cultural heritage and strategic positioning along the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), illustrating how localized initiatives can amplify broader regional impacts. Drawing on the ethical guidance of Aga Khan IV and Aga Khan V, Y-AP emerges not only as a practical development strategy but also as a normative framework for civic responsibility and inclusive progress.

“Development is most effective when it is participatory, inclusive, and values the contributions of every individual, regardless of age.” – Aga Khan IV (Aga Khan Development Network [AKDN], 2018)

“The future of society depends on how young people are educated and empowered to think ethically, act responsibly, and contribute to the common good.” – Aga Khan V (AKDN, 2024)

Y-AP is increasingly recognized as a critical mechanism for sustainable development. Unlike hierarchical models, it positions youth as active contributors in decision-making processes while adults serve as mentors and institutional anchors, facilitating mutual learning and innovation. Across districts including Gilgit, Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar, Diamer, and Ghanche, intergenerational collaboration leverages local knowledge systems, cultural values, and global best practices, ensuring that participation remains both inclusive and contextually grounded.

One of the most visible manifestations of Y-AP in GB is environmental stewardship. Plantation drives and reforestation campaigns, organized through schools, civil society organizations, and local committees, have contributed to soil stabilization and ecological restoration in vulnerable valleys. Mountain cleanliness initiatives in trekking corridors and tourist sites promote collective environmental responsibility. Youth contribute digital mapping, logistical coordination, and social media advocacy, while elders provide guidance rooted in traditional irrigation systems, land-use practices, and indigenous environmental ethics. This synergy ensures that interventions are both culturally embedded and ecologically sustainable.

Environmental challenges in GB remain acute. The region faces glacial melt, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, and shifting river flows that threaten infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods (Ali, 2024). Recent climate-induced flooding across northern Pakistan has further exposed the fragility of mountainous ecosystems (Washington Post, 2025). In response, youth–adult partnerships facilitate community-based monitoring of glacial lakes, disaster preparedness committees, and adaptive agricultural strategies that blend indigenous knowledge with scientific forecasting. Such integration enhances local resilience while strengthening community ownership of climate adaptation efforts.

Tourism development across GB has likewise benefited from intergenerational collaboration. Community-based tourism initiatives—integrating homestays, guided treks, cultural festivals, and handicraft enterprises—promote economic diversification while safeguarding heritage. Youth frequently lead digital promotion, e-commerce ventures, and entrepreneurial innovation, while adults provide governance experience, historical interpretation, and risk management. This collaborative approach ensures tourism growth that is economically viable, environmentally responsible, and culturally grounded.

Among GB districts, Hunza stands out as a compelling case study in the interplay of cultural vitality, economic opportunity, and strategic relevance. Its traditions—expressed through architecture, music, festivals, and artisanal crafts—offer fertile ground for youth–adult collaboration. Youth engage in digital documentation of oral histories, environmental advocacy, and tourism entrepreneurship, while adults guide resource management and institutional continuity. Hunza’s geographic location along CPEC enhances its economic visibility and infrastructural integration within national and regional frameworks. Intergenerational initiatives in the district demonstrate that cultural preservation and economic modernization are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing.

Simultaneously, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies is reshaping development trajectories across GB. From predictive climate modeling to digital tourism platforms and online education systems, technological tools have expanded youth participation in innovation ecosystems. The inauguration of technology infrastructure in the region, supported by institutions affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), reflects a broader transition toward knowledge-based development. However, AI integration also raises ethical concerns, including data privacy, digital inequality, and potential labor displacement. Y-AP provides a structured framework for ethical deliberation, ensuring that technological adoption aligns with community values, social justice principles, and sustainability goals (BMJ, 2022; Zeldin et al., 2013).

Overall, youth–adult partnerships across GB demonstrate that intergenerational collaboration can simultaneously advance ecological sustainability, social cohesion, and economic resilience. Participation in environmental campaigns, tourism ventures, climate monitoring systems, and AI-enabled projects cultivates leadership, civic awareness, and digital competence among youth, while adults benefit from renewed vision and adaptive learning. Hunza exemplifies how cultural richness and strategic positioning amplify these outcomes; however, the broader strength of GB lies in its collective inter-district dynamism and community solidarity.

In conclusion, Y-AP in Gilgit-Baltistan illustrates the transformative potential of structured intergenerational collaboration in ecologically fragile and socio-culturally diverse regions. Through integrated efforts in environmental stewardship, community resilience, tourism development, climate adaptation, and technological innovation, GB offers a model of participatory and ethically grounded development within Pakistan. By harmonizing youth innovation with adult experience, Pakistan can leverage the strengths of its mountainous regions to navigate environmental uncertainty, technological disruption, and socio-economic transformation in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

References 

Ali, S. (2024). Climate change, glacial melt, and environmental risks in Gilgit-Baltistan. Asian Bulletin of Green Management, 16(3), 45–60.

BMJ. (2022). Building transformational intergenerational partnerships for adolescent wellbeing. British Medical Journal.

Aga Khan Development Network. (2018). Statements on participatory development. AKDN.

Aga Khan Development Network. (2023). Global Encounters youth leadership program. AKDN.

Aga Khan Development Network. (2024). Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurates new Software Technology Park, Nasirabad, Gilgit-Baltistan. AKDN.

Geo.tv. (2024, June 8). Prince Rahim Aga Khan inaugurates software technology park in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Citizen. (2025). Border trade challenges and CPEC in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Washington Post. (2025, August 30). Pakistan floods and climate change in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Zeldin, S., Christens, B. D., & Powers, J. L. (2013). The psychology and practice of youth–adult partnership: Bridging generations for youth development and community change. American Journal of Community Psychology, 51(3–4), 385–397.

Gojal Hunza Community [Facebook]. (n.d.). Volunteers from Khyber-Hunza community during a mountain cleanliness and environmental stewardship drive [Image attached]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/1Amgv4yWcs/