Defiant traders operate boats in dammed Hunza Lake in violation of official ban

PT Report

Hunza, December 26: Traders defied an official ban on operating private boats in the dammed Hunza River and transported over two-dozens truck-loads of merchandise from Hussain to the spillway, near Attabad Village.

The traders alleged that an official raft service is being used to mint money, instead of providing relief to the commuters and business community.

Talking to media, President of the GBCCI said that they will continue operating the boats at their own risk. He also said that if the district administration tried to stop the service ‘thousands of people’ will protest.

It is pertinent to note that the boating service had been banned through a notification sent by the Home Secretary two weeks back due to the risk caused by freezing of water in the dammed river.

The irregular raft service is also a cause of inconvenience for the people of Gojal valley, who are completely dependent on boats due to the river blockade for almost two years, which also resulted in destruction of the Karakuram Highway.