Pakistan-China Trade Disrupted as Power Outage Protests Halt Karakoram Highway

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Hundreds of residents in Pakistan’s mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region blocked a key highway on Tuesday, protesting power outages that stretch over 20 hours daily, as temperatures plummet to a bone-chilling minus 15 degrees Celsius.

🔹 Blackout crisis: Routine load-shedding across fuel-deprived Pakistan has left Gilgit-Baltistan residents in the cold, with electricity available for only one to two hours a day.

🔹 Protest details: Since Friday, around 1,000 demonstrators have gathered in Hunza’s snow-covered valley, blocking a section of the 1,300-kilometer Karakoram Highway. The blockade has disrupted trade between Pakistan and China, stranding dozens of freight trucks.

🔹 Residents' struggle: Without access to affordable gas or fuel generators, locals rely on wood for heating. Protest organizer Baba Jan described the situation as "the worst kind of power cuts," while Zahoor Ali highlighted the hardships faced by tourists and locals alike in the freezing weather.

🔹 Economic impact: The highway, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), connects northern Pakistan to Gwadar port. "The blockade has halted business between Pakistan and China," said local trader Javaid Hussain, urging the government to address the region's power crisis.

🔹 Government response: Kamal Khan, a senior official, stated that negotiations with protesters were ongoing. While the government has promised to expedite power projects, it ruled out activating thermal plants, citing high costs.

The region, which relies on hydro plants and remains disconnected from Pakistan's national grid, faces increased pressure on its limited electricity supply during extreme weather seasons.

This latest protest underscores Pakistan's growing energy challenges as rising electricity costs, driven by IMF revenue demands, have doubled prices since 2021, sparking public outrage nationwide.