Awami Action Committee Unites Gilgit-Baltistan: Demanding Solutions for Longstanding Issues

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In a momentous development, the Awami Action Committee, in collaboration with religious and political organizations, has forged a powerful alliance, uniting tens of thousands of people from across Gilgit-Baltistan. Their primary objective is to amplify their collective voice and demand concrete solutions for the longstanding issues that have plagued the region’s population. To articulate their concerns coherently, the committee has laid out a comprehensive 15-point Charter of Demands, which outlines key areas requiring urgent attention and action from the governments in Islamabad and Gilgit.

The demands put forth by the Awami Action Committee encompass a wide range of critical issues. They include:

1. Freezing the wheat subsidy at 2022 rates and ensuring the provision of 9 kilograms of wheat per person each month.
2. Revoking the Gilgit-Baltistan Finance Act 2023 and putting an end to all taxes imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan.
3. Addressing the ongoing power crisis in the region, which the committee alleges has been artificially created by successive governments, and working towards increasing electricity production.
4. Entering into an agreement with the federal government, modeled after the “National Finance Commission,” to secure financial resources for Gilgit-Baltistan.
5. Granting ownership of all uncultivated and barren land to the locals through the Gilgit-Baltistan Reforms Bill.
6. Replacing the GB Assembly with a constituent assembly to enhance representation and address governance issues.
7. Providing free electricity to Gilgit-Baltistan from the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and allocating 80% royalty to GB in return for Water User Rights and Net Hydel Profits.
8. Cancelling all mining leases granted to non-locals and transferring them to the locals of Gilgit-Baltistan.
9. Declaring tourism and transportation as industries in Gilgit-Baltistan to promote their development and foster economic growth.
10. Constructing the Shounter Tunnel to facilitate tourism and improve connectivity in Gilgit-Baltistan.
11. Establishing medical and engineering colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan to enhance educational opportunities and meet the rising demand for skilled professionals.
12. Creating a university exclusively for women in GB, promoting gender equality and empowering women through education.
13. Restoring and revitalizing all ancient trade routes and roads to stimulate trade and facilitate cultural exchange in the region.
14. Awarding PSPD (Public Sector Development) contracts to local contractors in Gilgit-Baltistan, thereby bolstering the local economy and generating employment opportunities.
15. Ensuring the profitability of NATCO (Northern Areas Transport Corporation) by assigning it the transportation contract for wheat supply, thereby guaranteeing its sustainability and efficient service delivery.

The Awami Action Committee’s demands represent a concerted effort to tackle the various issues that have adversely affected the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for an extended period. The coalition’s endeavors have garnered widespread support, mobilizing a significant portion of the population and creating a formidable voice for the resolution of long-standing grievances. As the movement gains momentum, all eyes are on the governments to respond to these demands and actively work towards a brighter future for Gilgit-Baltistan, marked by positive change and improved living conditions.