I was raised in a small, peaceful village in the glorious mountain region of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, along with 4 brothers and 4 sisters.Access to higher education was severely restricted; I had to hike sixty kilometres (37 miles) from my home to attended classes, which were conducted under the comforting shade of a towered tree. With a positive attitude and a proactive mind-set, I successfully completed my college degree in the city of Skardu - an especially important achievement, considering that my siblings never had the chance to study beyond the 8th grade. To finance my studies, I worked in Skardu as a porter , which effectively kicked off my professional career in the tourism industry. My dedicated efforts paid off when I earned my Tourism Guide License, which allowed me to advance my studies. I soon recognized that the tourism sector plays a critical role in both opening exhilarating vistas to visitors world-wide, as well as in the overall development of an economy. This win-win outcome further motivated me to engage in the study of the tourism industry with a concentration on the promotion of my stunningly beautiful home town of Gilgit Baltistan.