Traders in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan Protest Over Power Crisis
On August 14, traders in the Ghanche district of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan staged a protest against the ongoing power crisis. The local media outlet Pamir Times reported that the deputy commissioner intervened, promising steps to restore electricity. However, one protester stated, ‘Power should be available from 8 am to 2 pm. If our demands are not addressed, we will escalate our protests.’
In a video shared by Pamir Times, the deputy commissioner is seen arguing with the traders. He claimed that a generator was being used in his office to address the outages and blamed natural calamities for the power cuts. Protesters dismissed these claims as false.
A protester highlighted the ongoing difficulties, saying, ‘This has been our constant issue. Power is available only for an hour at a time. We will not leave until this crisis is resolved. The government needs to allocate funds to improve power generation.’
Power shortages and persistent load shedding are severely impacting daily life and business operations. Frequent load shedding disrupts daily routines, including cooking, heating, and other essential activities. The power cuts also hinder educational and healthcare services, exacerbating the challenges faced by the local population. Businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, suffer significant losses due to power outages, affecting productivity, refrigeration, and other critical operations.
Underlying the power shortages is a pervasive issue of corruption and mismanagement. Allegations of corruption often surface in discussions about the region’s energy sector, suggesting that funds allocated for power infrastructure improvements are misused or misappropriated. Such corruption hampers efforts to enhance power generation and distribution, contributing to the ongoing crisis.
Doubts Revealed
Ghanche -: Ghanche is a district in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It’s known for its beautiful landscapes and mountains.
Gilgit-Baltistan -: Gilgit-Baltistan is a region in northern Pakistan. It is famous for its stunning mountain ranges, including parts of the Himalayas and the Karakoram.
Protest -: A protest is when people gather to show that they are unhappy about something. They want to make their voices heard so that changes can be made.
Power Crisis -: A power crisis means there is not enough electricity for everyone. This can cause problems because many things we use every day need electricity to work.
Deputy Commissioner -: A deputy commissioner is a government official who helps manage a district. They are responsible for making sure things run smoothly in their area.
Corruption -: Corruption is when people in power do dishonest or illegal things for their own benefit. This can make it hard for others to get fair treatment.
Mismanagement -: Mismanagement means not handling things properly. It can lead to problems like shortages or poor services.
Load Shedding -: Load shedding is when the electricity supply is turned off in certain areas for a while. This is done to save power, but it can be very inconvenient.
