January 11, 2024
By Mateen Ali
LAHORE
Demonstrations opposing the rise in subsidized wheat prices have marked their 14th consecutive day on Tuesday, as despite freezing temperatures, several people have obstructed major roads in the area while they sit-in.
Meanwhile, opposition representatives in the GB Assembly have formally requested a session to deliberate on the financial and wheat crises facing the region.
Opposition Leader Kazim Mesum, along with fellow members, has submitted a requisition in the GB Assembly to call for a session addressing the financial crisis and the increase in subsidized wheat rates. The document, endorsed by members from 10 opposition parties, urges the GB Assembly speaker to convene the session on January 11.
Since the past two weeks, protests have erupted in all 10 districts of Gilgit Baltistan over the increase in the price of subsidized wheat from Rs20 to Rs36 per kilogram. Organized by an organization called the Awami Action Committee (AAC), protestors gathered in various locations including Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Ghanche, Diamer, Astore, Shigar, and more.
The AAC, which comprises members from various political groups, civil society organizations, trade unions, and tourism sectors, has put forward a set of demands from the government especially after talks and negotiations have failed after multiple attempts. They have vowed that they will continue their protests until their demands have been met.
Demands
The charter of demands includes the following:
1. A reversion of the subsidized rate to the 2022 level.
2. A suspension of the Financial Act 2023 and the abolishment of taxes on the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, citing they were not represented in the parliament.
3. Addressing the worsening electricity crisis.
4. Ensuring GB’s share in the NFC award and its inclusion in resource distribution like other provinces of the country
5. To be given 80 percent royalty of the Diamer-Basha Dam’s net hydel profit and to be given water usage rights and more.
6. Industry status for the hotel, transportation, and tourism sectors
7. Establishing medical and engineering colleges, a women’s university in GB, and restoring traditional routes.
Wheat Subsidy Issue
Due to its remote location and mountainous terrain, GB has limited cultivatable land. Since the 1970s, it has relied on subsidies to meet its wheat demands.
However, the rise in inflation has adversely affected wheat prices causing the government to increase the subsidized rate. The revision of the government’s policy has also taken into consideration the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices in the region.
The reliance on wheat subsidies has also negatively affected local farming practices. Limited cultivatable land is being utilized to grow other local cereal crops that are impacting wheat production.
This is not the first time that a protest motivated by wheat prices has erupted in GB. Similar protests have taken place in the past, especially in 2017 and 2022 against similar issues. But at this point, the continuous series of protests is starting to indicate an inability of the local and federal governments to reach a solution.
Lack of representation in the parliament
While Pakistan has administered GB since 1947, it does not hold provincial status and is part of a larger territorial dispute with arch-rival India over the Kashmir region.
AAC alleges that major decisions like the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, the imposition of taxes on GB and the increase in wheat rates were unilateral government decisions, and the people of GB were not consulted. They also raised concerns about their ‘disputed status’ and that they lack representation in the parliament which has deprived them of their basic constitutional and political rights for 75 years.
One of the demands is that GB be given a share in the NFC award which is used to distribute resources across provinces and territories of the country. However, issues in its provincial status have diversely affected GB’s chances of getting a fair share in the resource distribution programs of the country.
Participation of the local population
Meanwhile, the participation of local people in the movement has been growing with each passing day. Locals have found this as an opportunity to present their resentments with the political and economic situation of the country. Some issues that directly affect their lives include electricity shortage and a lack of educational institutions in the region especially universities for women and for the medical and engineering sciences.
If their demands are not met, AAC and its supporters have announced they will cause more protests across GB.