PMLN fails to tackle Hunza’s power crisis
Karim Hunzai
The PMLN government came to power with the promise of undoing the wrongs of the past, and increasing the pace of development projects throughout Gilgit-Baltistan. People hoped that the Hafeez led government will be able to make up to its promises. That was not to happen.
Today, despite of lofty promises and umpteen hollow sloganeering, the issues of the masses remain unaddressed. Nowhere is this issue more evident than Hunza, where power crisis had crippled the economy, and the district is still effectively functioning as a large sub-division. The promise of establishing a new Tehsil in Shinaki area, and establishing a sub-division in Gojal Valley, remains unfulfilled.
For the last two weeks, while the tourism season is at its peak, the people of Gojal Valley remain deprived of electricity. The PWD officials continue giving “All Ok” reports to their bosses, who convey the same falsehood to their superiors, and the circus of lies and white-lies continues, at the cost of the region’s economy.
Power crisis persists in the entire district, with not a single project getting completed despite of the lapse of the two and a half years. The Misgar power project remains incomplete, and the rusted machines in Khyber village face mechanical failures almost every week.
Instead of making emergency arrangements and increasing the pace of work on the Misgar project, the power department officials continue extending the completion deadline, making a fool of the administration and the inept and spineless political leadership, which is busy in rewarding itself, and petting itself on the back for petty ‘achievements’. At the same time, when the Misgar project has not even been completed, teh
The entire district has still a single seat, with the largest voter base in the entire Gilgit-Baltistan region. Smaller districts have three legislative assembly seats for voters’ lists which are far smaller than Hunza.
The people of Gojal Valley have not received a single penny in lieu of the compensation for the land lost to the expansion and realignment of the Karakoram Highway.
Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman has failed to mobilize the resources required for completion of projects, and for initiation of new projects. Not a single development project has been started in the Hunza region during this period. The initiation of the KIU Campus is a badge that the PMLN workers and leaders want to show the masses, but the priorities of the masses are different; they want administrative reforms, increased representation in the legislative assembly, and a solution to the grinding power crisis.
The Campus mantra will not save the PMLN in the next election, if they don’t mend their fences, and continue prioritizing the issues of the masses.
Similar complaints are also coming from Ghizer, Diamer, Ghanche, Shigar and other districts of Gilgit-Baltistan where people roil under issues, while the leadership continues telling lies about the ‘revolutions in economy’.
The clock is ticking, and the time for action is running short for the PMLN leaders, particularly the ruling family of Hunza.
