While Gilgit-Baltistan is a multi-lingual region, Shina is the most widely spoken language in the Gilgit city and surrounding areas. It belongs to the Dardic languages, a branch of the Indo-Aryan language family.
Other languages spoken in the region include:
* Burushaski: Spoken in Hunza and Nagar valleys.
* Wakhi: Spoken in the Upper Hunza Valley.
* Khowar: Spoken in the Chitral Valley.
* Balti: Spoken in Baltistan region.
* Urdu: The national language of Pakistan and widely understood in the region.
However, Shina remains the dominant language in Gilgit city itself.