A protest sit-in against WAPDA at RBM Chowk in Patan brought traffic on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) to a complete standstill for more than 12 hours, leaving thousands of passengers, tourists and transporters stranded on one of Pakistan’s most vital transport routes.
Blockade Causes Chaos
The demonstrators blocked the highway in protest against what they described as delays in the provision of electricity infrastructure and the non-operational status of the Patan Grid Station. The prolonged closure resulted in lengthy queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway. Passenger coaches, tourist vehicles, freight trucks, oil tankers and private cars remained stranded for hours, causing significant disruption to travel between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Witnesses said tensions occasionally rose between stranded travellers and protesters as the blockade continued throughout the day. Tourists travelling to northern destinations expressed concern over the delays, while transporters reported financial losses due to the disruption of commercial traffic.
Protesters' Demands
Protest leaders said the sit-in would continue until their demands regarding electricity supply and the activation of the Patan Grid Station were met. They accused WAPDA of failing to fulfil commitments made to local communities despite repeated assurances.
According to the demonstrators, residents were previously assured that the existing 33-kilovolt Patan Grid Station would be upgraded to a 132-kilovolt facility following the completion of the Dasu Transmission Line project. They claimed that while the Achhar Grid Station in Upper Kohistan had become operational, the Patan Grid Station remained inactive despite the completion of the transmission line, leaving local residents facing persistent electricity shortages.
Broader Grievances
Protesters further argued that Kohistan has hosted several hydropower and transmission projects over the years, resulting in land acquisition and disruption to local livelihoods. They maintained that the affected communities had yet to receive the benefits and development initiatives promised during the implementation of those projects.
The allegations made by protesters could not be independently verified. No immediate response was available from WAPDA regarding the claims or the demands raised during the sit-in.
The Karakoram Highway is a key transportation corridor linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan and serving as an important route for passenger and commercial traffic. The prolonged blockade caused widespread disruption and highlighted growing public dissatisfaction over electricity-related issues in the area.
