GILGIT: The three-day Apple Festival 2026 concluded in Karimabad, Hunza, on Friday, celebrating the region`s apple harvest and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The event was organised by the Gilgit-Baltistan Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Department and the Karimabad Business Community Association, with support from the district administration, at the Rainbow Hotel in Karimabad.

The festival aimed to provide a platform for local apple growers and agricultural stakeholders to showcase their products, raise awareness about sustainable farming and promote the potential of Hunza`s fruit industry. It also highlighted the region`s rich agricultural and cultural heritage.

Local farmers, entrepreneurs, business representatives, support organisations and other institutions set up stalls at the festival, displaying Hunza`s quality apples, dry fruits, traditional products and handicrafts.

A large number of domestic and foreign tourists, as well as local residents, visited the stalls, pur-chased products and enjoyed traditionallocaldishesandfruits.

The three-day event highlighted the produce of local farmers, promoted agricultural products and provided a platform for marketing and sales.

Organisers said the festival would contribute to communitybased tourism by attracting visitors and showcasing Hunza`s agricultural traditions, local products and cultural identity. The annual event also offered an opportunity to recognise the efforts of local farmers and strengthen the link between agriculture, tourism and community development.

The festival was described as an important initiative to promote local agriculture, businesses and tourism. It enabled farmers to showcase their produce while highlighting locally manufactured products and traditional handicrafts.

It is expected to help farmers and businesspeople gain direct access to buyers, promote their products and explore new business opportunities.

Addressing the concluding ceremony, GB Secretary for Livestock and Fisheries Usman Ahmed said efforts were under way to develop the agriculture sector in the regionin line with the vision of Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Azar.

He said the chief minister had allocated a substantial amount in the GB development budget for the growth of the agriculture sector, adding that initiatives for livestock and fisheries development had also been launched.

Mr Ahmed said such festivals played an important role in highlighting the hard work of local farmers, encouraging them and providing better market opportunities for their agricultural products.

He said four major food commodities worth approximately Rs40 billion were imported into Gilgit-Baltistan every year to meet local demand.

He added that if farmers and people associated with the livestock sector adopted modern production techniques, better planning and hard work, they could meet the region`s demand for these commodities and generate substantial economic activity locally.

Deputy Commissioner Hunza Fayyaz Ahmed Khan said Hunza was known for its unique fruits and products, including its delicious apples. He thanked all stakeholders for organising the event to promote local products.