ISLAMABAD: As thousands of Diamer-Bhasha Dam affectees protest over the government’s failure to fulfill promises regarding compensation, resettlement, and other incentives, the federal government has assured swift action following an emergency meeting held on Monday.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Engr. Amir Muqam, chaired the meeting to discuss the issues surrounding WAPDA’s Confidence Building Measures (CBM) projects for the dam-affected people in the Diamer region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to official details, the meeting was attended by the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan (via Zoom), Chairman WAPDA Gen (Retd) Sajjad Ghani, Chief Secretary GB Abrar Ahmed Mirza, Federal Secretary of Kashmir Affairs & GB Zafar Hasan, Additional Secretary Kamran Rehman Khan, and other senior officials.
The meeting focused on various CBM projects, including the Chulha Package, water supply, sanitation, and land settlement matters.
Engr. Amir Muqam announced that a high-level committee would be formed to visit Gilgit-Baltistan and take comprehensive decisions to address the legitimate concerns of the affected communities. He also committed to personally visiting the region to oversee the resolution of issues, emphasizing that the federal government prioritizes the development of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The minister reassured that all possible relief would be provided to the affected families and highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s keen interest in the region’s development. WAPDA officials informed the meeting that tenders for the water supply project would be issued within two weeks.
Important decisions were made, and a comprehensive strategy was formulated to ensure the timely completion of various development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Protest in Chilas Over Unmet Promises
Earlier, residents of Chilas town in Diamer district staged a massive protest rally on Sunday, demanding justice for those affected by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project. The demonstration, organized under the banner of “Haqooq Do, Dam Banao Tehreek” (Give Rights, Build the Dam Movement), saw participation from affected individuals, youth organizations, religious scholars, lawyers, and political figures.
“This is a peaceful rally for the rights of those who sacrificed their land for the dam,” said youth leader Shabir Qureshi. “We are not against the government or the state. Our ancestors gave up their land for the country, and we are proud of that sacrifice.”
In solidarity with the protesters, traders in Chilas shut down their businesses, bringing commercial activity to a halt.
Speakers at the rally emphasized that while the people of Diamer made significant sacrifices in the national interest, they expected due compensation from the government. They demanded increased employment opportunities for locals instead of hiring from other cities.
The protesters called for the immediate release of the Household Resettlement Package (Chulha Package) and urged authorities to expedite full compensation payments for their lands.
During the demonstration, a 31-point Charter of Demands was presented, with participants reaffirming their commitment to continue their struggle until their demands are met. The district administration engaged in negotiations with the protesters, but the discussions remained inconclusive. Protesters announced they would continue their sit-in at Bab-e-Chilas until Monday to press the government for action.
