Charles and Duchess visit Hunza, Skardu

SKARDU/HUNZA, Nov 3: Prince Charles of Britain, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, visited a village in Skardu on Friday.

They mingled with the local people and showed interest in the traditional lifestyle of the people of the Nangtsoq village.

They visited several houses and saw local people engaged in their routine work.

They were briefed on the civilisation, custom and culture of the people of Baltistan.

They tasted the local food at a Balti food stall.

Earlier, on landing at the local helipad, they were accorded a traditional welcome.

Sherbaz adds from Hunza: Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Aga Khan visited the Altit area of Hunza to see the development work being carried out by the Aga Khan Development Network.

The main purpose of the visit was to explore avenues of involvement of the Prince of Wales Development Organisation in development activities in Northern Areas of Pakistan, especially in the field of preservation and restoration of historical buildings.

The Prince of Wales and the Aga Khan also visited the historical Altit Fort which is undergoing renovation under the Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan, a component of AKDN.

It may be mentioned that the Baltit Fort in Hunza, which has been resorted by the Aga Khan Cultural Services, has now become a major tourist attraction.