Gilgit-Baltistan, PoK (June 3, 2025)
– Thousands of enraged residents and traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) have brought the strategically vital Karakoram Highway (KKH) to a standstill for three consecutive days. This unprecedented blockade strikes at the heart of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), paralyzing trade and exposing deep-seated grievances against the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government .
Highway Blockade: The Crown Jewel of CPEC Paralyzed
Protesters representing all walks of life – traders, scholars, civil society members, and even local leaders of the ruling PML(N) party – have mounted a continuous sit-in at Gulmat Nagar in Gilgit-Baltistan. Their determination is clear: they vow to keep the KKH blocked until Islamabad addresses their demands. The KKH is not just any road; it's the critical land link between China's Xinjiang province and Pakistan's interior, forming the backbone of CPEC trade and hailed as the corridor's "crown jewel." This blockade has caused a complete halt to vehicular movement, stranding hundreds of trucks carrying goods between the two countries .
Strategic Lifeline Severed:The KKH is the primary route for CPEC goods and the only reliable land connection between Pakistan and China. Its paralysis disrupts billions in trade.
Broad-Based Anger: The involvement of diverse groups, including members of the ruling PML(N), underscores the widespread local fury transcending political lines. Javed Hussain, a local PML(N) leader and former Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly member, publicly criticized his own party's federal government, stating it "wasn't serious about addressing the protesters' demands" .
Roots of the Revolt: "Economic Murder" and Stranded Trade
The immediate spark is the six-month suspension of customs clearance at the Sost Dry Port, the vital customs facility near the Chinese border. This closure has left at least 257 commercial consignments stranded since December 2024. Traders, organized under the Pak-China Traders Action Committee(a coalition including the Gilgit-Baltistan Importers and Exporters Association and Chambers of Commerce from Nagar, Hunza, and Gilgit), describe devastating consequences :
Perishing Goods & Mounting Losses: Stranded goods include perishable items now expired and commercial products rapidly losing value. Traders face crippling daily port storage charges and other penalties.
Bankruptcy Threat: Many importers financed shipments through bank loans and now stare at financial ruin due to the indefinite delay and accumulating costs. They label Islamabad's policies as "exploitative" and an "economic murder" of local livelihoods .
Government Justification vs. Local Reality: While Islamabad cites "regulatory realignment" and "security considerations" for the Sost closure, traders allege bureaucratic turf wars, red tape, and a complete lack of compensation plans .
Key Protester Demands: Amnesty and Urgent Action
Facing unsustainable losses, the protesters have issued clear demands:
1. Immediate Clearance:Urgent customs clearance of all 257+ stranded consignments at Sost Dry Port.
2.One-Time Amnesty: Implementation of a one-time amnesty scheme allowing clearance upon payment of due taxes, avoiding further penalties and delays. Hussain highlighted the hypocrisy: "The government of Pakistan even gave amnesty to high-profile terrorists. So, giving a one-time amnesty to clear 250 consignments after paying taxes was not a big demand".
3. Permanent Solution: A sustainable resolution to prevent future trade disruptions and address systemic neglect.
Systemic Grievances: Disenfranchisement and Broken Promises
This protest is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan, fueled by systemic issues:
Constitutional Limbo: Gilgit-Baltistan exists in a constitutional void. Pakistan denies it provincial status or full integration due to the Kashmir dispute, leaving its people without representation in the Pakistani parliament. This fuels feelings of political disenfranchisement and discrimination. Hussain directly linked this lack of representation to the region's neglect .
CPEC's Broken Promises: Despite being the essential transit route for CPEC, locals see minimal economic benefits. Promises of jobs and prosperity remain unfulfilled, while projects often bypass the region (e.g., no Special Economic Zones). This echoes protests as far back as 2016 .
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