In Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), locals have taken to the streets to protest against the administration’s decision to reduce the amount of subsidized wheat flour (atta) and potentially eliminate the subsidy altogether. These protests highlight the region’s deep-rooted socio-economic challenges and the growing frustration among its population.
According to local media outlet WTV, the administration’s move has sparked widespread anger, with demonstrators chanting slogans and calling for immediate action to address their grievances.
The region, historically marginalized by Pakistan’s federal and local governments, now faces an additional burden as essential food prices rise, pushing low-income families closer to financial strain.
Rising Tensions Over Wheat Subsidy Cuts
The protests in PoGB were triggered by the local administration’s plan to reduce subsidized wheat flour. Several demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision, accusing the administration of gradually eroding the vital subsidy system.
Protesters voiced their concerns over the rising cost of living, which has been exacerbated by the reduced availability of wheat flour, a staple food item in the region.
A local protester stated, “We are protesting because the government is slowly reducing the quantity of wheat bags and aims to eventually end the subsidy system. The people of PoGB are deprived of basic facilities, and now even this subsidy is being taken away from us. We will not accept this at any cost, and our protest will continue until the local administration accepts our demands.”
The frustration of the locals is palpable, as they believe the regional administration, including the Chief Secretary of PoGB, is behind this unpopular decision. For many residents, particularly those from lower-income households, the subsidized flour played a crucial role in maintaining affordable access to food.
Its reduction threatens to further tighten family budgets, leaving many to question how they will manage rising food costs in an already struggling region.
The Impact of Economic Strain on Gilgit-Baltistan’s People
For decades, PoGB has faced significant socio-economic challenges, marked by underdevelopment and neglect from both local and federal authorities. The current subsidy reduction is yet another blow to a region already grappling with limited resources and poor infrastructure. The people of Gilgit City, in particular, are feeling the pressure as food prices surge, and essential commodities become harder to afford.
This situation is reflective of a broader pattern of deprivation in the region, where basic services and facilities remain scarce.
The absence of substantial governmental support has left many families relying on subsidies like the one for wheat flour to make ends meet.
As the protests grow, local officials have yet to respond with any concrete solutions or assurances for the affected population. The lack of communication from authorities is fueling tensions, as residents demand answers and immediate restoration of the wheat subsidy.
The reduction of the wheat subsidy is more than just an economic concern; it symbolizes a deeper crisis of governance and marginalization in PoGB. The region’s population has long felt overlooked by Pakistan’s central government, and the current protests are a manifestation of their pent-up frustration and anger over decades of systemic neglect.
Without swift action from the administration, the situation is likely to escalate further, leaving PoGB’s residents in an even more precarious position.
A Long History of Struggle and Marginalization
The roots of PoGB’s challenges can be traced back to its controversial incorporation into the Kashmir dispute following Pakistan’s illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947.
In 1949, the Pakistani government incorporated Gilgit-Baltistan into the Kashmir issue without consulting the local population, treating them as passive subjects rather than active participants in their governance. For years, the region was governed under the oppressive Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), which denied locals any meaningful autonomy or representation.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s, during the rule of then-Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, that the FCR was abolished, granting Gilgit-Baltistan some relief from its colonial-style governance. However, despite these legal changes, the region has remained mired in poverty, underdevelopment, and political disenfranchisement. Successive Pakistani governments have failed to provide the infrastructure, economic opportunities, and basic services that the people of PoGB desperately need.
Today, the protests over wheat subsidies are just the latest chapter in a long history of marginalization. The region’s residents have repeatedly voiced their concerns over inadequate healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, but their pleas have largely gone unanswered.
The current administration’s decision to reduce the wheat subsidy feels like yet another betrayal, deepening the sense of alienation felt by the people of PoGB.
As the protests continue, the administration in PoGB faces increasing pressure to address the grievances of its people.
The subsidy cuts have ignited a larger conversation about the region’s future and the need for more comprehensive economic and political reforms. For the protesters, the fight is not just about wheat—it’s about dignity, autonomy, and the right to a better future.
In the coming days, the outcome of the protests will determine whether the administration listens to the voices of its people or continues to prioritize cost-cutting measures over the well-being of its citizens.
