After more than two months of protest, traders in Gilgit-Baltistan have ended their sit-in at the Sost Dry Port. The protest had begun in July over taxation policies and the suspension of customs clearance at the key trade route. Trade leader Javed Hussain announced the decision after consultations with the supreme council, which represented the traders in talks with the government.
Although the federal government agreed to certain tax exemptions, traders remained unsatisfied with the outcome. Power Minister Awais Leghari had earlier announced a Rs4 billion annual cap on tax-free imports, limited to goods for local use. However, traders argued that the agreement did not fully address their demands. Despite this, they agreed to end the protest based on the council’s advice.
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Rehan Shah, another trade leader, said that containers stuck at the port for two years would now be cleared within two days. He also confirmed that a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) would be issued within a month to legally implement the agreed tax exemptions. He noted that the traders and council would reconvene to plan future actions based on the SRO’s status.
Previously, a special committee formed by the GB chief minister had proposed a consolidated SRO to grant region-wide tax exemptions. This measure was aimed at addressing long-standing concerns of the GB business community. The committee’s recommendations helped shape the final agreement during talks.
Read more: Gilgit-Baltistan traders block China trade over taxes
The reopening of the Sost Dry Port will revive trade and tourism through the China-Pakistan border. However, lingering mistrust and partial dissatisfaction suggest that further negotiations may be needed. For now, trade activity in the region is set to resume, bringing some relief to the economy of Gilgit-Baltistan.