Protest in PoGB Blocks Key Trade Route to China for 23 Days, Demanding Tax Justice

For the 23rd day, traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) continued their protest on Friday, causing a significant blockade on the Karakoram Highway, a crucial trade corridor with China. This demonstration calls for the removal of federal taxes deemed illegal by the protesters, as reported by Dawn.

The extended blockade has severely disrupted trade and travel between Pakistan and China, leaving thousands, including Chinese citizens and foreign tourists, stranded. Support for the protest is bolstered by local political, youth, and religious organizations, who argue that the region's unresolved constitutional status should exempt it from federal taxation.

Mohammad Ishaq, one of the protest leaders, criticized the federal government's reluctance to address the protesters' legitimate grievances, emphasizing their stance of 'No taxation without representation.' The tax dispute has crippled PoGB's economy for eight months, affecting various sectors and residents, according to Assembly member Ayub Waziri, who stressed the issue's broader impact beyond the trading community.

Waziri highlighted past negotiations where federal officials acknowledged PoGB as a 'non-tariff zone.' Despite these talks, a committee was formed, and mediations continue. The protest has seen a surge in participation recently with hundreds joining to show solidarity, as noted by Tanzeem Ahl-i-Sunnat wal Jamat leader Moulana Sharfuddin.

Protesters blame federal policies for economic hardships, with reports of unsold goods worth billions deteriorating due to customs delays, as mentioned by protestor Ahmed Nabi. Organizer Javed Hussain alleged preferential customs treatment for select individuals, insisting that local economic exploitation would not be tolerated.

(With inputs from agencies.)