German Ambassador to Pakistan, Ina Lepel, has commended the Qorqon Dass Lift Irrigation Project in Gilgit Baltistan’s Nagar district, calling it a landmark achievement in rural development and environmental restoration. The project has successfully transformed barren mountain slopes into fertile farmland while promoting widespread afforestation and biodiversity conservation.
During her visit on Thursday, the German envoy met with local residents and representatives of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), which implemented the initiative under the Hydropower and Renewable Energy Phase II (HRE-II) project, backed by Germany’s KfW Development Bank.
The advanced irrigation system lifts water 418 feet uphill to the Qorqon Dass plateau, making 1,200 kanals of previously unproductive land cultivable. Lepel highlighted that the project symbolizes the long-standing partnership between Germany and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, showing how shared efforts can uplift communities and improve livelihoods.
A distinctive element of the project is its focus on women’s empowerment with 30% of the newly irrigated land, around 360 kanals, allocated to women’s organisations. This marks a significant step in giving women ownership and control over agricultural production. “The water lifted uphill has also lifted our place in the community,” said Bibi Hoor, president of the Akbarabad Women Organisation.
Furthermore, another 30% of the land has been set aside for wildlife conservation, reinforcing local commitment to climate resilience and biodiversity. “By dedicating land to both farming and nature, we are healing our people and our environment,” noted Sajid Ali, chairman of the Shainbar Rural Support Organisation.
Located about 50 kilometres from Gilgit and standing 6,079 feet above sea level, the Chalt area in Nagar has long depended on small-scale farming. The new system is now expected to benefit over 570 families by increasing food security, household income, and environmental sustainability.
For AKRSP, this initiative continues its four-decade mission of helping mountain communities reclaim over 131,000 hectares of land across Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. Experts view the Qorqon Dass project as a model of climate-smart rural development, blending technology, social equity, and environmental stewardship to shape a greener and more resilient future for Pakistan’s northern areas.
