GILGIT: Residents of Nasir­abad in Hunza on Tuesday staged a protest sit-in, blocking the Kara­koram Highway (KKH) against delays in the completion of a water supply scheme from Mina­pin in Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Protesters alleged that thousands of fruit and non-fruit trees had dried up and crops over thousands of acres of agricultural land were damaged due to water shortages. A large number of local residents staged an indefinite sit-in at Nasirabad, blocking the KKH.

They said Nasirabad valley has been facing a shortage of water, particularly during the summer season, for a long time. The local population depends on agriculture and fruit trees as their main source of income. Last year, acute water shortages severely affected crops and fruit orchards.

According to the protesters, a water supply scheme from Minapin to Nasirabad in Hunza was approved 15 years ago to address the issue. However, they alleged that despite the passage of 15 years, the pipeline-based water supply scheme has not been completed.

Baba Jan, a leader of the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Workers Party and a resident of the area, said the livelihoods of local people have suffered for many years. “Fruit trees, including blackberry, cherry, apricot and other unique varieties in the valley, have dried up. Crops, which are the backbone of the local economy, were badly damaged last year due to the unavailability of irrigation water,” he said.

He added that the water supply scheme, initiated 15 years ago, had completed about 90 per cent of its work, but was later revised. The revised project requires approval from a Gilgit-Baltistan CWP meeting; however, for the past three years, it has not been included in the meeting’s agenda.

Another protester, Wajid Baig, said local residents were also facing difficulties in accessing water for drinking and daily use. Protesters pointed out that while the GB government claims to promote plantation and the billion tree project, agricultural land and thousands of trees grown by local people are suffering due to water shortages.

They said they had repeatedly met officials and requested intervention, but no action was taken. The protesters staged the sit-in on the KKH despite temperatu­res dropping to minus eight degrees Celsius. Traffic remai­ned suspen­ded for several hours; however, in the evening, the road was ope­ned for an hour to allow stranded tou­rists and emergency vehicles to pass.

The protesters warned that if practical work on the project does not start this year, half of the village could be completely destro­y­­ed agriculturally, further worsening the local economy and living conditions. They appealed to the caretaker chief minister to take immediate notice of the situation and direct the relevant departme­nts to start work on the water supply project on an emergency basis.

They said the sit-in would conti­nue until a notification is issued to begin work on the water project.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2026