Frano, Gilgit-Baltistan

Frano or Franu^{[note 1]} (Urdu: فرانو, romanized: frāno) is border village and union council which lies in Chorbat Valley, in the Ghanche District, Gilgit-Baltistan.^[1] The village lies upon the banks of the Shyok River. It is considered as the last village of Pakistan, with the LOC, 2.5km away, suceeding it.^[2]

Frano فرانو
Union Council
Frano Show map of Gilgit Baltistan Frano Show map of Pakistan
Coordinates: 34.93448°N 76.72972°E / 34.93448; 76.72972
Country	Pakistan
State	Gilgit-Baltistan
District	Ghanche
Tehsil	Chorbat
Elevation	2,699 m (8,856 ft)
Population
• Total	400
Time zone	UTC+5:00 (PST)

History

15km
9.3miles

Frano

Chorbat
Lungpa

Hanu
stream

Shyok River

Batalik

Khaplu

Chalunka

Turtuk

Dawou

Siksa

Hassanabad

Chorbat La

   

Frano

The vilages of Frano in Baltistan and Thang, Ladakh were twin villages with familes holding properties and homes in both sides. Following the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, the villages were cut off from each other.^[3]

Attractions

distance chart

The Appo Ali Shah Bridge, is deemed to be the first cantilever bridge ever built in the region of Baltistan. It was built by Ali Shah, a local farmer, in 1936, with trees and local wood.^[1] Frano is also noted in travel media as one of the easternmost Pakistani villages in Baltistan and as a vantage point from which nearby Indian-administered villages across the Shyok valley can be seen.

Education and Health

The village has two publicly run primary schools and a high school.^[4] The first school was established in 1953, followed by another primary school in 1995. In 2011, a primary school for girls was also established.^[5]

Frano has a local dispensary, while the nearest hospital is located in Siksa.^[5][6]

See also

• Thang, Ladakh

Notes

1. The village is popularly known by "Pharnu" across the LOC, likely a corruption of the Urdu transliteration or pronunciation.