The University was established in 2002 by a charter from the federal government on the orders of General Pervez Musharraf, President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. "The University is situated against a dramatic backdrop of steep mountains at the confluence of the Gilgit and Hunza rivers. The main campus of the university is located in Gilgit, the central town of Gilgit Baltistan. Gilgit has an airport, providing daily flights to Islamabad, punctuated by adverse weather conditions. The famous Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Pakistan with China, passing through Gilgit. An offshoot of the KKH connects Gilgit with Skardu (Baltistan). Gilgit gets very hot in June and July, whereas it is severely cold in December and January. However, travel by road and by air continues throughout the year."