The people of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan province have staged a massive protest against the atrocities of the Pakistani government over the Diamer-Bhasha dam construction project. The people of Gilgit Baltistan assert that Islamabad is accelerating the dam construction process at the cost of the lives and livelihoods of the affected community. Even after repeated approaches to the government seeking to fulfill their fundamental rights, the demands of the people go unheard in the fragile administrative ecosystem controlled by Islamabad.
The Diamer-Bhasha dam land affected communities thus intensified their protest on April 5, Sunday by blocking several sections of the Karakoram Highway in Diamer district, which is a key route and critical infrastructure connecting the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan region to other parts of Pakistan. The protestors further warned that if their demands are not fulfilled they would march towards the dam construction site and stage a strong protest. As per the reports, the affected communities as an impact of the Diamer-Bhasha dam construction project shouted slogans against Islamabad and asserted that “Huqooq Do, Dam Bananao”(Ensure rights and then build dams).
The local communities have been staging demonstrations over the past five days and it is escalating with every passing day as the Pakistani government is reluctant to heed to the demands of the affected people. In the previous year, an agreement was signed between the federal government of Pakistan and the communities who are affected. As per the deed, the government had to fulfill all the fundamental rights of the people, such as compensation for the acquired land, electricity and other amenities. However, the Pakistani authorities have failed to fulfill all these basic demands as per the agreement and are continuing with the dam construction, while the life of the affected communities remain vulnerable.
Frustrated with the misdeeds of the Pakistan government the people are staging a huge protest and are threatening to further escalate it, if demands are not fulfilled. Residents from Chilas, Goner Farm, Goharabad and other neighbouring regions tried to march towards Thor valley to join the protests. However, they were blocked by the police and other security officials near Gichi and Hudor on the Karakoram Highway. They were not allowed to participate in the protests reflecting the autocratic nature of Islamabad. Thus, the protestors blocked the Karakoram Highway at multiple points and began protesting.
The blocking of the highway led to massive traffic disruption and thousands of passengers who were travelling between Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan and other parts of Pakistan were stranded for long hours on the Karakoram Highway. Meanwhile, the demonstrators accused the Water and Power Development Authority for obstructing the implementation of the agreement reached in 2025 that aids to fulfill the rights of the people who are affected by the dam construction. Apparently, the agreement was signed in the presence of a committee representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Despite that the demands are not fulfilled and the vulnerable communities are facing hardships.
The protestors further asserted that though it’s been more than a year since the agreement was signed, not even a single clause has been implemented. Most importantly, the regularisation of local contingent and contractual workers is also not completed, thus the livelihood of thousands of people are severely affected. The demonstrators hence reiterated to continue the sit-ins and protest until all their demands are fulfilled. The agreement has 31 points including dam royalty rights for Gilgit Baltistan, free electricity for Diamer district, compensation for acquired land, financial support for remaining affected communities and hiring from the local communities for the future infrastructure projects etc.
However, none of these promises have been realised, thus causing severe misery to the people and pushing their lives to uncertainty. Gilgit Baltistan is an autonomous region, currently under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. It is a part of the Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, which was annexed by Islamabad in 1947. The region thus is an integral part of the Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
