The countdown for Gilgit Baltistan’s next assembly elections has officially begun.

On Friday, President Asf Ali Zardari approved the schedule for the upcoming Gilgit Baltistan general elections, paving the way for a fresh mandate in the region.

According to an official notification, the elections for the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly are scheduled to be held on January 24, 2026. Following this approval, the Election Commission of Gilgit Baltistan (ECGB) will release a detailed election calendar and soon convene an all-parties conference to consult political stakeholders on the process.

Chief Election Commissioner Abid Ali said the conference will provide a platform for all parties to discuss key issues, ensuring a smooth and transparent Gilgit Baltistan general elections process.

The Gilgit Baltistan Assembly was dissolved on November 24 after completing its five-year term, ending the tenure of Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and his cabinet. Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Nasir, former judge of the Gilgit Baltistan Chief Court, has taken oath as the caretaker chief minister, tasked with overseeing the elections.

Looking back, the last assembly elections in Gilgit Baltistan were held in November 2020 across 24 constituencies. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) initially formed the government with Khalid Khurshid as chief minister. However, political shifts in 2023 reshaped the regional leadership. In July 2023, CM Khurshid was disqualified by the Gilgit Baltistan Chief Court, leading to a coalition government formed by PTI’s dissident faction, PPP, and PML-N, which elected Haji Gulbar Khan as the new chief minister.