A deepening wheat shortage is creating significant hardship across Gilgit-Baltistan, sparking widespread discontent and accusations of deliberate neglect against Islamabad. Residents face long, uncertain waits at ration shops daily, hoping for a share of the scarce subsidized wheat that is essential for surviving the region’s harsh winters. The crisis has made affording basic meals a daily challenge for families in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, and surrounding communities, with market prices for the staple grain soaring.
Community leaders and residents are increasingly vocal, asserting that the scarcity is a symptom of a systemic issue where Gilgit-Baltistan, lacking political rights, is consistently sidelined. They observe a recurring pattern of being the first to suffer from shortages and the last to recover. This severe food insecurity is happening concurrently with debilitating electricity outages that disrupt daily life and businesses, particularly those dependent on refrigeration and heating. The irony is not lost on residents that hydropower produced in their region is exported while they struggle with darkness.
The core of the problem, according to many locals, lies in the administrative structure imposed by Islamabad. Gilgit-Baltistan operates outside the Pakistani constitution, without representation in the National Assembly or Senate, and with limited legal recourse through the Supreme Court. Key decisions about resources are made in the capital, leaving the region with little autonomy. This has fostered a perception of a system that benefits from the region’s resources while failing to support its basic needs.
Civil society advocates argue that the federal government could have prevented the wheat crisis from escalating. Despite early warnings from local authorities about depleting stocks, official responses were reportedly limited to generic assurances and blame on logistical issues for shipments. The growing desperation has fueled street protests, with demonstrators demanding that the government reinstate adequate subsidized supplies and provide transparent distribution mechanisms. Many elderly residents express profound concern, recalling days of returning home with nothing – a situation more severe than in past difficult times.
Many protesters draw a direct line between the food crisis and what they perceive as a broader pattern of exploitation: land acquired for national projects without equitable compensation, energy resources diverted elsewhere, and major developments lacking local input. They believe this reflects a governance model that marginalizes Gilgit-Baltistan. While immediate concerns focus on securing enough wheat for survival amidst the deepening winter, the long-term fear is that this crisis is a manifestation of a deeper political and economic marginalization. The patience of the residents is wearing thin, as they feel their region’s strategic importance is overlooked, leaving them to struggle for fundamental necessities.