08/03/2026
GB Freelancers Association Calls for Immediate Restoration of Skardu Software Technology Park
Gilgit: The Gilgit-Baltistan Freelancers Association (GBFA) has expressed serious concern over the recent incident in Skardu that led to the destruction of the SCO Software Technology Park, calling for urgent measures to restore the facility.
According to the association, the incident has left more than 200 male and female freelancers from across the Baltistan region without a workspace, while the operations of over 10 IT companies functioning within the facility have come to a complete halt.
In a statement issued on Sunday, GBFA President Ghulam Rehman urged the Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, the Force Commander Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Director General and Commander of the Special Communications Organization (SCO) to take immediate steps for the restoration of the technology park.
He noted that the SCO Software Technology Park had served as a vital hub for the region’s growing digital workforce, offering high-speed internet, a professional working environment, and opportunities for collaboration among freelancers, startups, and technology companies.
The facility had also hosted various training programmes where hundreds of students and young professionals acquired modern IT and freelancing skills, enabling them to access global digital markets.
Ghulam Rehman said the destruction of the park represents a significant setback for the emerging digital economy of Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly for young professionals who rely on stable internet infrastructure and shared workspaces to maintain their international clients and online rankings.
He warned that prolonged disruption could affect freelancers’ credibility on global platforms, damage client relationships, and undermine the region’s growing reputation in the international freelance market.
The GBFA president also noted that the construction and furnishing of the technology park had been financially supported by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). He expressed regret over the damage caused to the regional office of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in the same incident.
He appealed to AKDN and AKRSP to continue supporting youth empowerment initiatives and to contribute to the rebuilding of the SCO Software Technology Park so that freelancers and technology startups can resume their work.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Freelancers Association called on all relevant stakeholders to prioritise the early restoration of the facility in order to safeguard digital employment opportunities for the youth of Baltistan.
