GILGIT: The prolonged blockage of Karakoram Highway has exacerbated the wheat shortage across Gilgit-Baltistan, where a huge population is dependent upon subsidised wheat provided by the federal government.

Long queues of people waiting to buy wheat were seen outside GB Food Department’s warehouses, which have also run out of stocks.

The wheat supply to the region has been disrupted as the movement of heavy traffic on the highway has been suspended since August 30, as a result of which, 28 trucks loaded with wheat are stuck near Kohistan.

A statement issued by the food department said that the movement of trucks has been severely affected due to landslides at many places on the highway caused by floods.

Upon the instructions of GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid, top officials of the food department, led by Secretary Safdar Khan visited the bridge in Kohistan on Thursday which was damaged by recent flooding.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has blamed the federal government for reducing the wheat subsidy, while opposition leader in GB Assembly Amjad Hussain Advocate has held the PTI-led GB government responsible for the shortage.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022