GILGIT, April 27: With the increase in temperature, the glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan have started melting, resulting in significant increase in flows in rivers, streams and nullahs.

Usually, the temperature increases in Himalayan, Hindukush and Karakuram ranges of mountains soon after March, but this time the weather remained cold until last week due to rains and snowfall.

The electricity generation and power supply has also improved as the region was entirely dependent on hydropower and the Water and Power Department has decreased load shedding to six hours. Lawyers boycott:

The legal fraternity of Gilgit-Baltistan boycotted lower and upper courts on Wednesday following reports that a summary has been moved by the government for induction of two judges in the Chief Court of region in violation of rules given in Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009, court sources told this correspondent.

The boycott was observed on the call of interim president of the Chief Court Bar Association Manzoor Ahmed. Lawyers said that according to the order, 60 per cent judges would be appointed from the bar and 30 per cent from benches.

A meeting of the bar association presided over by Mr Ahmed decided to continue the court boycott till April 30 throughout Gilgit-Baltistan.

PHA SURVEY: Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) will conduct a survey for construction of houses for Gilgit-Baltistan government employees.

This was decided on Wednesday in a meeting of PHA in Islamabad, which was chaired by Chief Minister Mehdi Shah.

According to a statement here, Federal Secretary Housing Raja Abbas and MD PHA were present at the meeting.

Mr Shah highlighted the problems faced by the GB employees and asked the participants to take initiatives for establishment of housing societies in this new province.

BY-POLLS: The by-elections in GB-19 of Ghizer district is being held today (Thursday) where three candidates are in the run.

The seat fell vacant after member from this constituency, Pir Karam Ali Shah, was appointed governor Gilgit-Baltistan.

The candidates include Jawahir Khan of PPP, Karim Khan of PML and Nawaz Khan of BNF.