by F. Ali
The marginalised peripheries of Pakistan are caught in a dual crisis: the escalating threats of climate-induced catastrophes and the relentless exploitation of their natural resources by state-backed corporate entities. This manifests in myriad ways, from melting glaciers and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the mountains to water scarcity and seawater ingression into agricultural lands along the coastal belts. The destruction is pervasive, threatening human settlements, wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the very fabric of life and livelihood.
While the international community claims to address the existential threat of climate change, global, regional, and local capital—bolstered by state power and a corrupt governance system—is accelerating the destruction of nature in the Global South. Nowhere is this more evident than in Gilgit-Baltistan, a disputed territory where the pillage of resources under the guise of “development”, “tourism” and “sports” has reached alarming proportions.
At the heart of this exploitation lies the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), established last year under the pretext of attracting foreign investment and boosting economic growth. The SIFC, effectively controlled by the Pakistan Army, has become a tool for consolidating control over the region’s natural resources, sidelining local communities, and violating international conventions, environmental laws, and constitutional protections.
The SIFC’s operations exemplify resource capture. Take, for instance, Green Tourism a company, which got control of the motels and guest houses previously owned by PTDC. The latest example is the Sost Dry Port, a critical node on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route. The port has been placed under the control of the National Logistics Cell (NLC), the transportation wing of the Army. This move not only militarises economic infrastructure but also excludes local stakeholders from decision-making processes, depriving them of even meagre economic benefits. The NLC’s dominance over the Sost Dry Port and new border trade policy epitomise the broader pattern of resource extraction by non-local entities, prioritising profit over the welfare of local communities.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s disputed status has left its people without constitutional protections, making it easier for external actors to exploit its resources with impunity. The SIFC operates with a lack of transparency and accountability, making decisions about resource grabbing without meaningful consultation with local communities. This top-down approach perpetuates a colonial mindset, treating Gilgit-Baltistan as a resource frontier rather than a region with its own distinct identity and rights.
The pillage of mineral wealth
The exploitation extends to Gilgit-Baltistan’s mineral wealth. Mining leases are being granted to non-local investors and state-backed entities without regard for environmental regulations or the consent of local communities. The region has recently faced an alarming surge in the issuance of mining leases following the relaxation of mining policies and the introduction of online applications. Over 300 leases have been granted across Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of local communities or adhering to environmental and conservation regulations. This has sparked conflict between mining entities and the indigenous populations, who view these actions as a direct threat to their land, livelihoods, and ecological heritage.
The environmental consequences are already devastating. Unregulated mining and unchecked timber smuggling have led to massive deforestation, water pollution, and the degradation of fragile mountain ecosystems. These practices not only harm the environment but also exacerbate the vulnerabilities of local communities to climate change, which is already wreaking havoc through glacial melting, unpredictable weather patterns, and increased frequency of so-called “natural” disasters—better described as man-made catastrophes.
Unchecked mining threatens not only the region’s biodiversity but also the livelihoods of local people who depend on the land for agriculture, pastoral practices, wildlife conservation and cultural preservation.
The mining companies often bypass genuine environmental safeguards by leveraging bureaucratic influence and superficial compliance with regulatory protocols. To date, over a dozen leases have been issued by the mining department for the exploration and extraction of placer gold, antimony, and other minerals in the Shimshal Valley, further exacerbating tensions.
The situation escalated recently when a mining firm, Unique Friends Company, was issued an environmental clearance letter by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for exploration of antimony in the Shimshal valley. This decision has triggered protests and deep concern among the Shimshal community, which is already under immense pressure from corporate and state-backed entities seeking to exploit the Valley’s mineral wealth.
The Shimshal community, nestled in the Karakoram range in Hunza district and renowned for producing some of the world’s top climbers, has emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance against the exploitation of natural resources. For over four decades, the community has steadfastly resisted bureaucratic intimidation and coercive attempts to seize control of their land in the name of Khunjerav National Park. Their resilience has safeguarded their ancestral territory and led to the establishment of a pioneering model of community-led conservation of pastures and wildlife since the 1990s. This innovative approach has garnered recognition from the government and international organisations, serving as a testament to the power of grassroots environmental stewardship.
The territory is protected under the Trust Act and governed by the Shimshal Nature Trust (SNT), established in the 1990s to safeguard the land and resources of the local community. Allowing mining activities in this valley constitutes a clear violation of the Trust Act and conservation laws. Moreover, the project disregards the recommendations of COP29, which emphasized stricter environmental standards, climate risk assessments, and biodiversity conservation in mining operations.
The community’s resistance is grounded in a robust legal framework:
Articles 29(2) and 32(2) of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) mandate FPIC for any project affecting indigenous lands.
The UN Commission on Economic, Cultural, and Environmental Rights of Indigenous Peoples has repeatedly emphasized the importance of safeguarding indigenous communities’ rights to their lands, resources, and cultural heritage.
Articles 9, 14, and 38(d) of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantee the right to life, dignity, and a clean environment.
Sections 12 and 16 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA), 1997 require thorough environmental impact assessments and prohibit pollution exceeding national standards.
Pakistan Conservation of Wildlife Act, 1975 protects wildlife and habitats, which the proposed project threatens to destroy.
The Shimshal community’s reliance on the natural environment for livelihoods and cultural practices is at risk due to the potential environmental degradation caused by the mining projects if implemented. They have expressed grave concerns over the EPA’s decision to grant environmental clearance NoC to Unique Friends Company for antimony exploration in their protected territory without their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), a direct violation of both national and international laws.
The community has demanded the immediate cancellation of the NoC, warning that such actions not only undermine their rights but also pose a severe threat to the ecological, social, and cultural integrity of Shimshal. The community’s plea to the EPA underscores the urgent need to revoke all leases issued for mining activities in the valley and address their concerns.
The broader resistance movements
Shimshali’s struggle is not an isolated one. Across Pakistan, marginalised communities are rising against the exploitation of their resources. In Sindh, protests rage against the proposed diversion of Indus River water to Cholistan for corporate farming, a move that threatens agriculture and ecosystem of Indus Basin.
In Chilas, displaced people have been holding a protest sit-in for the last month demanding compensation and resettlement for lands acquired for the $28 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam. In Hunza, traders are protesting the NLC’s monopoly on the Sost-China border trade and the new border trade policy. These movements underscore a shared demand: the right to self-determination, equitable resource management, and environmental justice.
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.
It is imperative that the voices of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are heard, their rights respected, and their resources managed sustainably and equitably. Only then can the region truly benefit from its vast potential without sacrificing its ecological integrity and cultural heritage. The time has come for the relevant authorities to act decisively. The future of Gilgit-Baltistan—and indeed, the future of all marginalised communities in Pakistan—depends on it.
F. Ali is an Islamabad-based journalist and activist hailing from Gilgit-Baltistan. He is the Executive Editor of The High Asia Herald and Baam-e-Jahan. farman.ali21@outlook.com
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Well Explained the Present Situations, in regards of Natural Resources of Gilgit -Baltistan, their Environmental and other Impacts on 3Es and 3Rs- safety and security of the areas.
How the Community should be on Board in A Borders Paradigm is a ⁉️⁉️⁉️ for all Members of the Community, Political Leaderships, social reformers, Youth and Females of that Society.