MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels — which it often does — people take to the streets and disrupt life to get their message across. Protests have been continuing in Gilgit-Baltistan since last week over 22-hour power outages in the region. Demonstrators, braving the mountainous area’s harsh winter weather, have blocked the Karakoram Highway in Hunza, affecting trade with China. Similar protests have also been held in other parts of GB. Civil society groups, political parties, and traders have all backed the demonstrations. Locals say that the lengthy blackouts, and resultant internet breakdowns, have affected students as well as online businesses and trade activities. Such mass protests were held in January 2024 too; at that time, along with regular electricity supply, GB’s people were calling for a withdrawal of an increase in the subsidised wheat price, among other demands. A GB government spokesman says “90pc” of the protesters’ demands have been met, while promising that new power projects would be completed by “next year”.

The centre, which dominates GB’s governance, as well as the regional administration, must ask why local people take to the streets so often. Clearly, the state machinery is failing to adequately respond to the population’s needs. Where power is concerned, it is indeed a problem to ensure regular electricity supply due to the region’s rugged terrain and limited infrastructure. Yet there are solutions that have been suggested for mountain communities, for example wind and solar energy, which can ensure relatively regular power supply. Economic opportunities in the region are already limited, and when there is no power for most of the day, the impact on life is debilitating. CNN has recently listed GB as amongst the top 25 places to visit in 2025. Yet to fully tap the region’s potential, pressing local issues need to be addressed forthwith.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2025