PoJK, July 17 -- Despite being blessed with breathtaking valleys, rivers, and mountains, the regions of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) continue to face decades of state apathy, particularly when it comes to tourism infrastructure and local development.

In one such incident in PoJK, a popular waterfall destination painstakingly developed by residents was demolished by Pakistani authorities, ignoring a standing court-issued stay order. The site had become a modest yet vital livelihood source for the surrounding community, which had spent years and lakhs of rupees to make the area accessible for tourists.

"We developed this site ourselves after the earthquake," said Lal Mansoor, a P...