Hundreds of passengers and transporters remain stranded as residents of Harban in Upper Kohistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, block the Karakoram Highway (KKH) for a seventh day, demanding immediate and higher compensation for land acquired for the Diamer-Basha Dam project. The sit-in near Harban Nallah has cut off the main route linking Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) with the rest of the country, creating severe shortages of food and medicine and leaving hundreds of trucks carrying goods immobilised. Protest leaders accuse WAPDA and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa administration of failing to honour promises on compensation payments. “Our land was taken, but the rates were unfair and payments have been delayed for years,” said Niamat Khan, one of the organisers. Officials from the Kohistan administration and WAPDA say about Rs3 billion is owed in total, with nearly Rs2 billion already transferred to the deputy commissioner’s account. They insist the remainder will be released once legal formalities are complete, but protesters reject any further delays.
Protesters block KKH over dam land compensation
Published on: September 14, 2025 11:43 PM