Gilgit-Baltistan

Highway tolls, hollow rights

In both the Nagar and Gulmit cases the toll collection points were reportedly established by the NHA without prior consultation with local administrative bodies and communities. Public reaction was swift and organised, reflecting the growing awareness of their rights and an increasingly unwillingness to accept policies dictated from Islamabad

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Resource capture in Gilgit-Baltistan

Resource capture in Gilgit-Baltistan is a stark reminder of the region’s continued exploitation and marginalisation. The control of the Sost Dry Port, the leasing of mineral resources to non-local investors, and the disregard for environmental and indigenous laws all point to a systemic pattern of exclusion and exploitation. If this trend continues, Gilgit-Baltistan risks becoming a textbook example of how powerful actors can hijack development initiatives to serve their interests at the expense of local communities and the environment.

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