Gilgit-Baltistan: People in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan are forced to live in dire conditions including lack of power supply amid huge economic crisis that has gripped Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s local media, people in many areas of Gilgit city are forced to live in darkness for the last one week due to lack of electricity.
People have come out on the streets in anger against the government. As a result, traffic came to a standstill and commuters are facing a lot of trouble. Local media reported that if uninterrupted power supply is not restored, the protesters have issued a stern warning that they will block highways during the next demonstrations. They are protesting against the rapidly rising inflation and unemployment.
This comes when Pakistan faces an economic crisis. The flood-affected citizens and the country’s food crisis have long remained mute witnesses to the failure of leadership at all levels. People have been protesting for the past several months against the high handedness of the army, which controls the area like its own colony. The military is responsible for large-scale land grabs and mineral mines in the region.
In the name of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the business houses of China and Pakistan are looting the local resources of the region. According to The Times of Israel, in nearby Gilgit Baltistan, people have protested against the local administration and the federal government for the land grab by the army. In December, a small town, Manawar, saw a fierce public protest over the detention of youths protesting against the army.
The military has been quick to crack down on protesters by accusing them of being terrorists. Gilgit-Baltistan is currently in a severe financial crisis and is demanding the release of funds from the federal government.
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah highlighted the region’s financial crisis and sought financial assistance from the federal government, Dawn reported. Sources told Dawn that the federal government had not released GB’s annual financial development grant as the sector relies on the federal government’s financial grant.