Traders’ protest shuts KKH, cripples tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: Traders involved in trade with China via the Khunjerab Pass blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday to protest against what they call the exploitative policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The demonstration, organized by the Pak-China Traders Action Committee — an alliance of regional trade bodies— began last week with a sit-in at Gulmat Nagar.

For the first four days, the protest did not disrupt traffic until Sunday, when traders announced a “massive protest rally” in Sost, Hunza, and started moving towards the border and the port town in the form of convoy.

However, the district administration of Nagar stopped them at the Pissan area. The protesters staged a sit-in there, which was later shifted back to Gulmat and continues to this day, with the road blocked to all traffic.

The protesters have vowed that the road connecting Pakistan with China will remain closed to traffic until their demands are accepted. Various delegations of traders, scholars, politicians, civil society members from Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit, and other areas joined the protesters.

The traders are protesting for a seven-point agenda including recognition of Gilgit-Baltistan’s disputed status by exempting the region from income and sales taxes, allowing clearance of goods based solely on customs duty.

Protest leader Abbas Mir told HUM News English that their Plan-A—a large gathering in Sost—was thwarted by authorities.

“Under Plan-B, we allowed intermittent passenger movement. From tonight, Plan-C takes effect: all traffic except ambulances will be halted,” he added.

The ongoing closure of the Karakoram Highway has impacted tourism and the local economy of Gilgit-Baltistan. Hundreds of passengers and tourists suffered as a large number of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the road for many hours.

In response, the Hunza Hotel Association, Traders Association, Tour Operators Association, and Transporters Association held an urgent joint meeting in Aliabad, Hunza on Tuesday, to discuss the crisis. A subsequent statement issued after the meeting highlighted that 98% of Gilgit-Baltistan’s economy relies on tourism, and the blockade has jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of families linked to the sector.

The statement noted that local farmers in Hunza and Nagar—currently in peak cherry season—are unable to transport their produce to markets, resulting in heavy agricultural losses. The associations called on the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the Force Commander to immediately reopen the KKH to revive tourism and mitigate economic damage.

They warned that failure to take timely action could lead to increased unemployment, poverty, and frustration in the region, with long-lasting negative effects. The tourism stakeholders urged the government to engage in dialogue with the trader community to resolve the issue promptly and ensure the highway is reopened without delay.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Industries Muhammad Ali Quaid, who is also part of the protest, told HUM News English that the Gilgit-Baltistan government was not against the traders and that the issues were related to the federal government.