Social changes and strategies for sustaining pastoralism under modernization in Shimshal, northern Karakoram

Abstract

The village of Simshar (3,000 m above sea level), located in the northern part of Karakoram, is a small village with a population of about 2,500. Since the opening of the road in 2003, the number of tourists, trekkers, and tourists for trophy hunting (hunting of wild animals) has been increasing. This study discusses how the social transformation of Shimshal village has affected pastoralist activities by promoting education, tourism development, and trophy hunting, and how the residents try to maintain pastoralism.