In the rugged terrains of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), a wave of frustration is building as locals feel increasingly sidelined by Islamabad’s iron grip on the region’s vast mineral wealth. Army Chief General Asim Munir recently painted a rosy picture of economic salvation through untapped resources worth trillions, but critics argue it’s nothing more than empty promises amid growing military control.
A detailed report from the Afghan Diaspora Network highlights how PoGB, instead of being integrated into Pakistan’s socio-economic mainstream, is being treated as a strategic buffer zone. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) arrived with grand vows of development, yet it has only deepened local despair. Munir’s claims of harnessing $6 trillion in minerals from PoGB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are seen as a ploy to distract from institutional overreach and neglect of border regions.
At the heart of this narrative is the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a military-influenced body ostensibly created to lure foreign investment and stabilize Pakistan’s economy. In reality, it has become a tool to consolidate army control over strategic minerals and energy sectors. On April 25, 2025, SIFC drafted and enforced the Mining and Mineral Amendment Act 2025, centralizing mining rights under federal authority—now firmly under military sway. This eroded regional autonomy and weakened checks and balances.
Further tightening the noose, Pakistan’s federal government amended the PoGB Mining Concession Rules 2024 on August 15, 2024, bolstering Islamabad’s dominance and curtailing local administrative powers. The backlash was swift and fierce. In April 2025, the Shigar Valley witnessed its largest protests in years, led by the K-2 Action Committee. Residents, activists, and traders took to the streets chanting ‘No to Occupation on Occupation,’ voicing not just economic grievances but decades of exploitation, neglect, and political marginalization.
This unrest underscores a deeper malaise: PoGB’s resources are being militarized while its people are fed false hopes. As Islamabad prioritizes centralization, the region’s future hangs in balance, with locals demanding real empowerment over illusory prosperity.
