Sost: Protesters block KKH, demand opening of road at Yazyupk

PT Report

Sost/Gulmit/Yazyupk: Transporters, traders, members of the civil society and local people are staging a peaceful protest demonstration in Sost, the border town of Pakistan, close to the Chinese border. Shops and markets in the Afiyatabad area remain shut due to the protest demonstration.

The protesters have blocked the Karakuram Highway to condemn the negligence of the government and the relevant departments for failing for keep the road open between Hussaini and Ghulkin at a place called Yazyupk.

The protesters are demanding of the district administration and the government to take appropriate measures to keep the road open. The protest demonstration culminated with the people giving a 24-hours ultimatum to the government for opening of the road and for enacting measures to keep it open in the future. They said that if the road remains blocked after 24 hours, they people close down all offices, markets and roads in the region and go on an indefinite strike.

“Hundreds of men, women and children have to walk in the cold glacial water everyday to travel between Hussani and Ghulkin. With the increase in water flow the threats of people being washed away has increased considerably”, said Kiramat, a commuter, while talking to Pamir Times today.

The Chinese engineers working have in the past tried to keep the road open in the Yazyupk area. However, they said that they are not being paid for the work by the government of Pakistan and the CRBC and that they do not have the extra resources to keep the road open on their own.

The protesters in Sost have blocked the traffic towards China and they are also chanting slogans against the negligence on part of the government and administration.

The road at Yazyupk has been disconnected by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) for almost two months now.