DUSHANBE, April 3, 2013, Asia-Plus  - A color and illustrated map of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) in English has been printed.  The map is an essential tool to promote development of ecotourism in this high mountain area.

The map has been compiled and printed by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)’s Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP) in cooperation with the State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Cartographic Factory under the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy of Tajikistan, AKF Afghanistan, the Pamirs Eco-Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA), the FOCUS Program and the Khoushkor Design Company.

According to MSDSP, this map entitled “The Map of the Pamirs: Tajikistan GBAO and Border Areas” is intended for the use of tourists visiting Tajikistan, in particular Gorno-Badakhshan.

The map reportedly contains geographical and historical background information about Gorno-Badakhshan and border areas of Afghan Badakhshan.

The Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people of the mountainous areas of Tajikistan.  The Programme was initiated by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in 2003 with the goal to improve living conditions in select mountain communities in the country.  To achieve its goal, MSDSP operates a multi-sector program which engages in natural resource management, early childhood development (ECD) and community health.