the capital of ghanche district is khaplu. this is the coldest place within pakistan also called the "third pole" with temperatures reaching below in the winter. khaplu and hushe valleys form the gateway for the great baltoro muztagh, the subrange of karakoram that includes the mighty peaks of k2 (8,611 m), broad peak (8,047 m), gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and masherbrum (7,821 m) (all of which are included in the skardu district).