Protests rock entire G-B against cut in wheat subsidy

GILGIT: On call of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), an alliance of political and religious parties of Gilgit-Baltistan, widespread protests against cuts in wheat subsidy were witnessed across more than twenty locations in the region on Friday.

The central rally took place in Ghari Bagh, Gilgit, drawing a large crowd, with parallel protests in Skardu, Astore, Darel, Tangir, Ghizer, Nagar, and other areas.

The demonstrators also call out the G-B government’s recent targeted “subsidy policy, price hikes, the imposition of unjust taxes, prolonged load shedding, exploitation of natural resources, and the illegal distribution and leasing of lands and minerals in the region”.

At the conclusion of the rallies, a unanimous declaration was adopted, rejecting the government’s attempts to reduce wheat subsidy and increase prices. The AAC declared the cut in wheat subsidy as equivalent to snatching food from the people’s mouths and vowed to intensify protests across Gilgit-Baltistan until the decisions are reversed.

Withdrawal of wheat subsidy: Awami Action Committee announces GB-wide protests

The declaration also called for an immediate end to the “rulers’ lavish expenditures and privileges”, demanding subsidies on essential items, including gas cylinders, considering the disputed status of Gilgit-Baltistan. The AAC emphasized that subsidies were not charity but a right of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Highlighting the issue of load shedding despite the region’s vast water resources, the AAC condemned the government’s incompetence and corruption, demanding immediate action to increase electricity production.

The AAC also rejected the imposition of illegal taxes, revenue acts, and finance acts, labeling them as anti-people laws. They demanded that the control of all resources of Gilgit-Baltistan, including GST revenues, “which amount to over Rs 150 billion annually”, be handed over to the local government and people.

The AAC warned of a more intense phase of protests, including sit-ins and a long march, if the government fails to address these demands promptly.

Furthermore, the AAC rejected the exorbitant fee hikes at Karakoram International University, the region’s sole higher education institution, and pledged full support to the students’ demands, threatening to lead their protests if their issues are not resolved immediately.