A sit-in protest against the energy crisis in Aliabad area of Hunza district continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday with the Karakoram Highway (KKH) remaining blocked, paralyzing tourism and trade between Pakistan and China.
The protest was launched on the call of the Hunza Awami Action Committee and the All Parties Traders Association.
While the government has failed to find any solution despite its efforts, Gilgit-Baltistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Imran Ali said that 700 trucks, including vehicles loaded with imports and exports, have been stuck in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Dry port due to the sit-in.
“Trucks carrying goods from China are stuck in the dry port, while Pakistani trucks meant to transport goods within the country are stranded at different places within Hunza,” Ali said.
Previously, the government’s offers were rejected and residents had announced that they would continue protesting until the issue was resolved. They spent Saturday night at their protest camp despite the frigid temperatures and announced they would continue until the government met their demand.
A protest rally was also held in Ganish village on Sunday, while participants later joined the sit-in.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the deputy commissioner of Hunza, a meeting was held in his office with representatives of the protesters.
The deputy commissioner assured the protesters that the Gilgit Baltistan government would immediately take steps to improve electricity supply to Hunza.
However, protesters rejected the offer and called it a “false promise”, saying that such promises were also made in the past but were never implemented.
Ali went on to say that traders were facing serious problems due to the situation.
“The border snow removal machinery has also gotten stuck on the road, and the border restoration process has not even started,” he said.
“In such a situation, how will vehicles travel between both countries?”
The Chamber of Commerce president further said that the continuous road closure in Hunza-Aliabad had affected tourism activities.
According to residents, many tourists who went to the region to enjoy the snowfall on the Pakistan-China border were also returning. Customs authorities also confirmed that trucks loaded with imported goods were stuck at the CPEC dry port.
The deputy commissioner had earlier assured protesters that the UK government would immediately take steps to improve electricity supply to Hunza.
For this, a new power transmission line will be laid from Jaglote Guro in Gilgit to central Hunza. This transmission line will provide Hunza with 1.5 megawatts of electricity in winter and four to five megawatts in summer.
When contacted earlier, Gilgit Division Commissioner Kamal Khan said Sunrise that there was currently a power shortage in GB and Hunza was no exception.
He said that power generation in the region depends on hydropower plants that require sufficient water flow, adding that in the winter season, when the flow of water in the canals of power plants decreases, power generation also decreases. .
“Therefore, power shortage becomes a problem in GB in every winter season,” he said.
