Today a peaceful protest was organized at Karachi press club by youth of Gilgit Baltistan. The protest was attended by hundreds of youth from Gilgit Baltistan to demand their basic rights and share in CPEC.
Charter of demands from the youth of Gilgit Baltistan to Government of Pakistan.
First of all this point is to be cleared that this protest is not against government of Pakistan, its Agencies or any other departments of Pakistan but just to raise voice for rights of G.B. We think that the representatives from G.B are not playing their role to raise voice for rights of Gilgit Baltistan. Youth of Gilgit-Baltistan residing in Karachi has planned a peaceful protest for following demands.First of all this point is to be cleared that this protest is not against government of Pakistan, its Agencies or any other departments of Pakistan but just to raise voice for rights of G.B. We think that the representatives from G.B are not playing their role to raise voice for rights of Gilgit Baltistan. Youth of Gilgit-Baltistan residing in Karachi has planned a peaceful protest for following demands.
1. Share in Pak -China Economic Corridor (CPEC).
CPEC is a mega project comprising of 46 Billion dollars, in which Punjab has 6.9 billion US dollars, Baluchistan has 7.1b USD, KPK and Kashmir has 9.5 B USD, Sind has 11.5 b USD but there is nothing for Gilgit Baskin in spite of 430 KM route of CPEC through Gilgit Baltistan, but there is no economical zone, no dry port and no mega project, which is developing a sense of deprivation and sense inferiority amongst people of G.B. So students and youth of G.B demands to establish 3 economic zones and 3 mega projects in G.B. (source: PMLN official website).
2. Legislative rights: (Give complete internal autonomy)
There is an assembly in Gilgit Baltistan and people elect their representatives for legislation but these members do not have rights to legislate in main economic areas like tourism, minerals and other resource rich fields. Furthermore there is a G.B council superior to the Gilgit Baltistan assembly. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan is an ex officio member and Minister In charge of the Council. Prime minister of Pakistan is the In -charge of G.B council which has the ultimate power and fate of G.B in his hand. No taxes till an autonomous state. Our demand is to provide complete internal autonomy for legislation and remove the council and transfer the rights of legislation to G.8 assembly for all sectors. (Source: 2009 presidential ordinance)
3. Division of Gilgit Baltistan:
A conspiracy of division of Gilgit Baltistan is being created, and C.M G.8 is advocating federal perspective on this issue. We students strongly condemn the division of G.B. we were united, we are united and we will remain united.
4. No taxes till legal rights:
As government of Pakistan has not cleared the position of G.B yet. So according resolution of UNCIP (United Nations commission for India and Pakistan 19413) no taxes can be applied in G.E. But the government is advocating and has applied taxes on few sectors. We strongly condemn this act and demand to withdraw the taxes applied on G.B people. Give us the constitutional rights first by making it 5th province then apply all sort of taxes.
5. Basic human rights:
EducationIt is a real fact that G.B has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan and this rate is increasing day by day..
Most of the students from B.B move to other cities of Pakistan and according an estimate 1 billion PKR is drained from G.B to other cities per annum. Gilgit Baltistan has only a university in Gilgit and there is no medical college, engineering university, Agriculture University and any other technical university.( 5000*15000=75000000*12=900000000 PKR). 90 Crores. We demand to establish a medical college and 2 engineering universities in G.B so that the literacy rate could reach to 100% in the region because all the people could not afford to educate in other cities. We demand to establish colleges for women in each union council and degree colleges in each sub divisions and a separate university in all divisions of G.B to promote Female literacy rate in the region. Fulfill the promise of establishing Baltistan by prime minister of Pakistan while his visit just before the elections of G.8 and by the current chief minister of gas. They made votes by this promise from Baltistan region but now they are denying.
Health:
There are no facilities of health service in G.E. Hospitals. They do not have staffs, medicines and even there are no big hospitals to treat the people there in G.E. Our demand is to construct hospitals and provide facilities for the pre established hospitals.
6. Construction of Gilgit-Skardu Road.
The most attractive political slogan in the last elections was construction Gilgit-Skardu Road by the Prime minister but the documents of the same project has been rejected by the prime minster office, which shows that it was a step to make fool the G.B people. We demand to initiate this project as soon as possible because it is the life blood of People of Gilgit Baltistan.
7. Establish hydro projects:
Gilgit-Baltistan is a resource rich area for hydro power projects. It has many rivers upon which numerous power projects can be initiated. So our demand is to establish hydro projects in the regions, because it will create job opportunities to the educated but unemployed youth of G.B.
8. Promote tourism.
Gilgit-Baltistan is called as jewel of Pakistan for its natural beauty but government is not sincere to promote tourism in the region. We demand to take steps to promote tourism in the region. Provide security to the tourists in travelling to G.B.
9. Initiate to establish industries in G.B.
G.B is rich in minerals, gemstones, agriculture, horticulture and medicinal plants. But government is not establishing any sort of industry in any sector. We demand to take serious initiatives to establish industries in the region.
10. Quota in CSS.
Currently quota of CSS for G.B is accumulated with Kashmir and tribal areas totaling 4%. Our demand Is to separate the quota of G.B from Kashmir and FATA. Give 10% quota for Gilgit Baltistan basing upon its population, literacy rate and geographic area.
