I RECENTLY tried my luck to fly to Gilgit from Gojal because the lake has frozen and boat transportation is not in operation. On reaching the helipad, I watched a lot of people -- patients, students, businessmen and others – stranded.

The helicopter could carry only five to 10 passengers, depending on the weather. As a result, I missed my examinations and thus failed. Many students like me suffer on this count.

The promise by Qamar Zaman Kaira, the former governor of Gilgit Baltistan, to drain the lake and clear the Karakoram Highway within two weeks has not yet been fulfilled after a lapse of more than two years.

Gojal, with a population of 25,000, does not have a doctor. Although the GB government deputed a doctor, he simply disappeared after a week. Doctors do not bother to work at the Gojal Gulmit Hospital because they do not want to lose their patients in their clinics in Gilgit and Hunza.

A woman walked for two consecutive days and gave birth to twins on the third day because of unavailability of doctors.

Shops and utility stores are out of stock and the area is running out of fuel.

The government didn’t pay some extra money to the contractor for clearing the Karakoram Highway in 60 days, according to the feasibility report.

Instead, the government preferred the FWO which failed to complete its task in more than two years, although the Organisation had claimed it would complete it in 45 days. Now we are paying for it every day.

I would request the authorities concerned to take up the matter and come up with a solid solution so that the people of Gojal live a normal life like the people in other parts of the country.

GOHER SHAH Gulmit Gojal