Amid rising military oversight of natural resources, Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) locals are rejecting Army Chief Asim Munir’s tales of trillion-dollar mineral windfalls. A comprehensive report exposes how such rhetoric distracts from Islamabad’s aggressive centralization, turning the region into a militarized asset rather than a prosperous partner.
CPEC’s developmental dreams have soured, leaving communities disillusioned. Munir’s blueprint for tapping PoGB and KP’s rare earths promises economic revival, but it’s critiqued as institutional overreach in disguise. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) exemplifies this, evolving from an investment magnet into a vehicle for army dominance in minerals and energy.
Legislative maneuvers tell the story: SIFC’s April 2025 Mining Act amendments vested mining authority centrally, with military fingerprints all over. The prior August 2024 tweaks to PoGB rules amplified federal power, eroding local sway and igniting widespread anger.
Shigar Valley’s April 2025 uprising, led by K-2 activists, drew massive crowds decrying ‘occupation upon occupation.’ This movement transcends mining disputes, embodying decades of marginalization, resource theft, and suppressed voices.
As protests gain momentum, the gap widens between elite promises and ground realities. PoGB demands a say in its destiny, challenging Pakistan to choose between control and collaboration for true progress.