Protesters Block Karakoram Highway for 7th Day Over Diamer-Basha Dam Compensation
In Pakistan’s scenic Upper Kohistan area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), locals have shut down the vital Karakoram Highway (KKH) for a full week now. Hundreds of people remain stuck as the blockade near Harban Nallah demands better and quicker payouts for land taken for the massive Diamer-Basha Dam project. Local media like The Express Tribune are reporting the growing chaos.
This sit-in has completely cut off the main road connecting Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to the rest of the country. As a result, food and medicine shortages are hitting hard, and scores of trucks loaded with goods sit idle. One protester shared his frustration: "They took our land at unfair rates, and we’ve waited years for the money."
Angry residents blame the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the KP government for breaking promises on compensation. Officials admit they owe around Rs 3 billion in total. They’ve already sent nearly Rs 2 billion to the deputy commissioner’s office, but say the rest will come only after sorting out legal hurdles. Protesters aren’t buying it—they want action now, no more delays.
The blockade is taking a real toll on daily life. Prices for basics like onions and tomatoes are skyrocketing, and drivers rerouting through the tricky Babusar Pass are slapping on huge extra fees. This is fueling inflation in an economy that’s already struggling. Traders and truckers are counting massive daily losses, with perishable goods spoiling fast.
Civil society voices are slamming the KP government’s quiet stance, asking why the state isn’t stepping up to fix this mess. Protesters promise to keep the Karakoram Highway blocked until they get fair Diamer-Basha Dam compensation. Meanwhile, locals and business owners are calling on federal and provincial leaders to jump in, talk things out, and get traffic moving again on this key route.
As the standoff drags on, the pressure builds for a quick resolution to ease the pain for everyone caught in the middle.
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