AAC wants Islamabad to address Gilgit-Baltistan’s concerns over Pak-China Economic Corridor

PT Correspondent

Gilgit, March 19: The Awami Action Committee, an alliance of more than 20 small and large political and religious groups from Gilgit-Baltistan, has demanded of the federal government to address the reservations and grievances of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan with regards to the Pak-China Economic Corridor. They made the demand today during a meeting with the recently appointed Governor Barjees Tahir at his office.

After meeting the governor, leaders of the popular Awami Action Committee (AAC) addressed journalists at the press club and informed them about their 9-point charter of demands presented to the governor.

Apart from demanding measures and laws to protect economic, political and environmental interests of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in the Pak-China Economic Corridor project, the AAC leaders said they have repeated their demand for constructing new power projects in the region and completing the old ones on urgent basis.

They said that the people of Gilgit city, the region’s capital, are faced with around 20 hours of loadshedding everyday. They said that the government has failed despite of massive protests earlier last year to resolve the power issue.

Other demands made by AAC include protection of the rights of people affected by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project and the KKH expansion project. They have also demanded of the federal government to stop ‘illegal’ taxes from the unconstitutional province. Appointment of locals on key posts is among the demands made by the AAC.

It is pertinent to note that the Awami Action Committee (AAC) had been able to mobilize tens of thousands of people early last year, successfully restoring subsidies of sale of wheat. The committee, however, faced a setback early this month when the religio-political party MWM parted ways with it.