Disruptions on China-Pakistan Highway: Demonstrations Halting Traffic in PoK Due to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Administration...

Update: Jun 2, 2025, 10:26 PM IST

The residents of Gilgit Baltistan, a region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, have been stirring up trouble due to the fortnight-long blockade of the Karakoram Highway and relentless protests against the federal government's trade policies.

Varsha Agarwal

In the midst of these "oppressive" trade regulations orchestrated by the Shehbaz Sharif-led administration, thousands of boiling-point locals in Gilgit-Baltistan have been putting up a three-day demonstration, impeding the renowned Pakistan-China's Karakoram Highway - a segment of the CPEC.

The disruption of the Karakoram Highway, a marquee feature of the CPEC, has led to a standstill of vehicles on the vital route. On top of that, the protesters, comprising of importers and exporters from Gilgit Baltistan, are irate about the trade policies they refer to as an "economic assassination."

Media outlets report that the demonstrators vowed to maintain the highway blockade until their demands were addressed. A local PML(N) member, Javed Hussain, claimed that the government was reluctant to handle their demands, and the region was being deprived due to insufficient representation in parliament. "The GB residents have been forking over taxes, yet the FBR has been reluctant to clear their consignments. The Pakistan government even granted sanctuary to high-profile terrorists. In light of this, providing a one-time amnesty to clear 250 consignments after paying taxes was not a steep demand." Hussain further commented to Dawn.

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Amidst the frenzy, folks from all walks of life, including academics, tradesmen, and members of civil society, joined in the sit-at protest in the region. They voiced anti-government slogans, particularly targeting Pakistan Customs and the local administration.

Why Have the GB Residents Been Protesting?

The protesters blame the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs regulations for financially crippling them, citing the lack of job opportunities and a harmful impact on trade with China, their primary source of income.

Since November 2024, when customs clearance for imported consignments from China was halted at the Sost Dry Port, which has been closed for six months, traders have been fuming due to massive financial losses. About 257 consignments have been stacked at the port since December 2024, resulting in losses due to spoiled goods, daily port charges, and other expenses. The Pak-China Traders Action Committee, Nagar Chamber of Commerce, and small trade associations from Nagar, Hunza, and Gilgit organized the protest. They insisted on immediate clearance of the stalled consignment through a one-time amnesty scheme, stating that they could no longer endure the growing losses.

Latest Headlines

Gilgit-Baltistan protests
Pakistan-China trade disruptions
Shehbaz Sharif government's trade restrictions

The demonstrators' main demands include:

A one-time amnesty for clearing the stranded consignments.
The border trade to be classified as a tax-free zone.
Improved facilities for local traders to bolster their livelihoods.

In a nutshell, the protests result from the federal government's trade restrictions and customs practices that have frozen the main economic lifeline between Gilgit-Baltistan and China, causing financially debilitating consequences for traders and job losses, while simultaneously advocating for government intervention to reduce trade barriers and support local traders.

In India, Bollywood actresses have shown support for the ongoing protests in Gilgit-Baltistan, expressing solidarity with the protesters who are demanding a one-time amnesty for clearing stranded consignments and are calling for the border trade to be classified as a tax-free zone.
The economic struggles of the protesters in Gilgit-Baltistan have drawn attention to issues of political corruption and war-and-conflicts-induced trade disruptions, particularly in the context of Pakistan-China's trade relationship, which has been a point of great interest in international general news.

Disruptions on China-Pakistan Highway: Demonstrations Halting Traffic in PoK Due to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Administration...