(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Karakoram Highway Blocked for 7th Day Over Diamer-Basha Dam Compensation Protests
In Gilgit, Pakistan, the vital Karakoram Highway (KKH) stays shut for the seventh straight day. Protesters from Harban in Upper Kohistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, refuse to budge. They want fair and quick compensation for land taken for the Diamer-Basha Dam project.
The blockade near Harban Nallah stops all traffic on this key route connecting Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) to the rest of Pakistan. Locals say the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and provincial officials broke their promises. "They grabbed our land, but the compensation came late and unfair," protest leader Niamat Khan told reporters.
Government sources admit they owe landowners about PKR 3 billion. They’ve already sent nearly PKR 2 billion to the Kohistan deputy commissioner’s account. Officials promise the rest will follow once legal steps finish. But protesters aren’t buying it. They demand full payment right away, no more delays.
This long closure hits hard. Food prices, especially for onions and tomatoes, have shot up. Truck drivers now take the longer Babusar Pass route and charge extra, fueling inflation and hurting local traders.
Civil society groups slam the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government for staying quiet. They question why PoGB and K-P leaders seem to ignore the growing pain. As per The Express Tribune, both sides look indifferent to people’s suffering.
The Diamer Valley feels the pinch most. Folks in Darel and Tangir can’t reach Chilas or Gilgit easily. Businesses stall, patients miss hospital visits, and kids lose school days. Stranded families and drivers fear this could turn into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
Protesters vow to keep the road closed until they get what they want. Meanwhile, residents and shop owners beg federal and provincial leaders to step in, talk things out, and reopen the highway fast. This mess shows how fragile the region’s economy is and how tough it is for authorities to fix things, reports The Express Tribune.
The Diamer-Basha Dam project aims to boost power in Pakistan, but right now, it’s sparking big unrest over land rights and compensation delays. ()
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