KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: The main highway connecting Pakistan to China in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region remained closed for trade and traffic on Monday for the fourth consecutive day, as demonstrators continued their sit-in protest against power outages that residents say last for almost 20 hours.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH), a vital trade route between the two countries, was obstructed by protesters on Friday at Ali Abad, a significant point in the Hunza Valley. Protesters were enraged by frequent power outages in GB. The area has witnessed a gradual increase in trade activity following an agreement between Pakistan and China to keep the Khunjerab Pass open year-round to facilitate economic exchanges.
Hamid Hussain, an engineer at the Gilgit-Baltistan Water and Power Department, last week blamed technical reasons for the power outages. He said the region heavily relied on hydropower, which often faced disruption in winter due to the freezing of rivers and lakes.
Various political parties such as the Awami Workers Party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), members of the civil society and trade associations joined hands to stage the sit-in protest at the highway on Friday. Despite the freezing temperature, the sit-in protests have continued since then.
“All rounds of negotiations with the government have failed and we are still facing the worst kind of power crisis,” Zahoor Ilahi, a member of the core committee formed by protesters, told Arab News over the phone.
“We will not end the protest until our demands are met. Though our demands are to permanently resolve the power crisis, however, if they agree to run thermal generators to minimize power cuts, a consensus will be developed to end the protest,” he added.
Demonstrators gather around fire during a sit-in protest in Hunza Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, on January 5, 2025. (Ali Ahmad/Facebook)
GB an impoverished, mountainous part of the larger Kashmir region, is home to 127 hydel and 34 thermal stations but the region continues to suffer one of the worst power outages in the South Asian country.
Khuzaima Anwar, Hunza’s deputy commissioner, admitted the protesters’ demands were “genuine.”
“The people have been protesting for power crisis since last Friday and their demands for the long-term uplifting of power projects are genuine,” Anwar said.
He said the district administration engaged with protesters twice since Friday and acknowledged their demands.
“The issue is here that they are demanding we run thermal generators,” he said. “But the fuel cost will be very high and the government is not in a condition to face more liabilities.”
He said the government was also trying to negotiate with protesters, adding that members of the GB Assembly were also playing their role in ending the sit-in protest.
“Trucks and containers are stuck on both sides as the main KKH is blocked,” Anwar said. “However, there is another alternate route for miniature vehicles, and the law and order situation is under control.”
Imran Ali, President for the Gilgit-Baltistan chamber of commerce, confirmed dozens of containers were stuck on both sides of the highway due to the sit-in protest.
“Tourists are also facing issues due to road blockades,” Ali told Arab News. “The government should come forward to resolve the issue.”
