GILGIT — Pakistan has imposed a five-year ban on building new hotels near scenic lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan to curb environmental damage caused by unchecked tourism development.

The region, home to around 13,000 glaciers and renowned for its natural beauty, has seen a surge in hotel construction, straining resources and polluting lakes, officials said.

“If this continues, we’ll end up with a forest of concrete. Tourists come here for nature, not concrete,” said Khadim Hussain of the Gilgit-Baltistan Environmental Protection Authority.

The move follows viral complaints of wastewater being dumped into Lake Attabad, leading to fines. Local activists and residents have welcomed the ban, calling it vital to preserving the area’s rivers, lakes, and landscapes.