GILGIT: Local residents staged a sit-in blocking Karakoram Highway in Nasirabad, Hunza, for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday to protest against the GB minerals department for allegedly providing mining lease to an outsider company.

A large number of people, including women and men, have been taking part in the protest.

The protesters demanded ownership rights on the local natural resources.

They claimed that locals owned the mountain situated in Nasirabad and acquired lease from the government in 1989 to mine marble from there.

However, they regretted, the minerals department later suspended the lease and granted it to an external mining company.

The protesters have accused the minerals department of colluding with the investors, depriving the locals of their rights.

Tourists, local passengers suffered due to blockade of Karakoram Highway at Nasirabad.

The protesters have fixed specific hours for the vehicles to pass through the highway.

According to sources, protesters and GB government officials are likely to finalise an agreement soon.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2022