- Business community head says blockage of KKH has left hundreds of small traders and workers jobless
Gilgit-Urumqi Business Forum President Nazir Ahmed on Sunday urged the government to introduce tax concessions for the business community of Gilgit Baltistan because it was affected by the formation of Attabad lake on Karakoram Highway (KKH), blocking trade activity between Pakistan and China.
In an interview with Pakistan Today, Ahmed said that the business community had suffered heavily due to the lake. “Since this trade route was only bread and butter for local businessmen, its blockage has left hundreds of small traders, peasants and workers jobless,” said Ahmed, adding that the government has not taken measures to help the small traders and peasants.
He said, “Many of our businessmen have become bankrupt due to the AttaabadLake problem while many are on the brink of a disaster.”
The Gilgit-Urumqi Business Forum head said the government had not compensated those traders whose consignments were submerged in the lake.
“It is a pity that the Chinese government is sending relief items for the poor families, but there is no relief whatsoever from our federal government. It is thus a high time for the government to at least provide relief for the small traders by announcing tax concessions,” he said.
Ahmed said that the matter was not being resolved because a major portion of the Pakistan-China trade was thriving via shipping industry.
“Since all the big businessmen have no problem, the government officials have turned a blind eye to the small business industry whose sole source of income is Khunjerab-Sust trade route,” he added. He said that there was no option left for the small traders.
He said that a two-day weekly holiday was another problem being faced at the Sust border.
“The border is closed on Saturday and Sunday leaving hundreds of workers jobless. These poor people are already suffering due to the shrinking business. So the government should urge the Chinese government to revert these holidays and the old system of no-closure of border should be restored,” he maintained.
In January 2010, a massive landslide blocked HunzaRiver around 2-3 kilometers and submerged the road near Attaabad village. The accidental lake caused considerable damage to life and property in the area as a large portion of the Karakoram Highway was flooded between Gulmit and Ghulkin. The problem further deepened in year 2013 as the lake widened due to fresh land-sliding.
