CHILAS – People affected by the construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam continued their protest for the third day on Sunday over non-payment of compensation for their land.
Thousands of victims blocked the Karakoram Highway at Harban in Kohistan with stones and mud. Because of the blockade, hundreds of vehicles remained stranded and passengers including women and children faced difficulty. The passengers and transporters have appealed the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa chief minister and Kohistan administration to enter into dialogue with the protestors and arrange immediate opening of the KKH.
Addressing the protestors, their leaders demanded the establishment of modern vocational centre in Kohsitan so that educated youth could be absorbed in the construction of the dam. They also said that 20 percent of the royalty from the dam should be reserved for district Kohistan development, in addition to road construction in all Kohistan valleys, free electricity and setting up of colleges and hospital. INP