Students march 167km demanding tunnels on Shahra-e-Baltistan

GILGIT: A group of students from the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF), Karakoram International University (KIU) chapter, concluded a seven-day protest march on Saturday, demanding the construction of tunnels along the dangerous Shahra-e-Baltistan.

The students, who marched 167 kilometers from Gilgit to Skardu, were warmly received at Yadgar-e-Shuhada Skardu, where a rally marked the culmination of their journey.

The march was started at Nad-e-Ali chowk in Gilgit on Dec 21. Besides pressing for the construction of tunnels along the treacherous Shahra-e-Baltistan, it was also aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need for safer travel routes to prevent recurring accidents on the road.

Addressing the rally, BSF senior leader Advocate Asif Naji highlighted the dire need for safety measures on Shahra-e-Baltistan, a highway plagued by fatal accidents. He criticized the poor construction and mismanagement of the road project initiated during former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, accusing contractors (Frontiers Work Organization) of failing to adhere to the original safety-focused plans, which included the construction of tunnels and safer curves.

“Over 1,500 lives have been lost due to this hazardous road,” Naji stated. “This highway has become a death trap for the people of Baltistan. Cement and steel meant for the road’s construction were allegedly sold in local markets, leaving us with an incomplete and unsafe route,” he alleged.

The students’ march, dubbed the “Build Tunnels, Save Lives,” reflects growing frustration with the lack of government action despite years of complaints from the local population. Protesters at the rally demanded immediate intervention to ensure the construction of the tunnels to prevent further loss of life.

The rally also condemned the allged detention of Awami Action Committee (AAC) leaders and barring AAC leader Shabbir Maiyar from his participation in the protest. Speakers criticized the authorities for curbing freedom of expression and assembly, warning that such actions would expose the government’s disregard for human rights on an international level.

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AAC leader Najaf Ali questioned the continuous neglect faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He passionately addressed the crowd, asking, “Is it the destiny of Gilgit-Baltistan’s people to carry the burden of coffins? Are the people of Baltistan doomed to live in perpetual darkness? Is it our fate to collect drops of water to survive?” He further criticized those labeling the demands for a safer road as treason, saying, “Demanding a safe road is not treachery; it is patriotism. Those turning a blind eye to death on Shahra-e-Baltistan are the real traitors.”

The protest has drawn significant attention, with participants vowing to continue their struggle until concrete steps are taken to make Shahra-e-Baltistan safer for the region’s people.

According to Rescue 1122, from August 15, 2023, to December 2024, Shahra-e-Baltistan witnessed a total of 46 traffic accidents, resulting in 8 fatalities and 50 injuries. These statistics further underscore the urgent need for improved road safety measures, amplifying the protesters’ demands for tunnels to be constructed along the treacherous route.

On December 14, a vehicle traveling from Skardu to Shengus was struck by a landslide, killing five people. Earlier in July, a car carrying tourists plunged into the Indus River in Roundu Valley, claiming the lives of three people, including a child, and injuring three others.