Hundreds of protesters in northern Pakistan have blocked a major highway, disrupting trade with China and impacting tourism, officials reported Tuesday. The protest, sparked by ongoing power shortages, began over the weekend and escalated Monday with demonstrators in Aliabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, halting the Karakoram Highway.
Government officials are negotiating with protesters to resolve the issue. While widespread power cuts are common in Pakistan, especially during summer months, residents in Aliabad have reported up to 20 hours of outages amidst a harsh winter.
This blockade significantly affects the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The initiative aims to boost trade and infrastructure links between western China and Pakistan's Gwadar port. A key component of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC is vital for Pakistan's economic recovery.
The highway closure has stranded hundreds of trucks carrying goods destined for China at a nearby dry port. This disruption also affects the flow of goods throughout Pakistan.
