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ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN

By Syed Shams Uddin

Manzar Shigri's latest podcast, aired on K2, January 10, 2025, sheds light on the alarming electricity shortage in Gilgit-Baltistan in 2025. The region continues to grapple with a severe energy crisis, marked by minimal power supply, often limited to just two hours a day in urban centers. This chronic shortage has had profound implications for the daily lives of residents, particularly as the harsh winter intensifies.

Shigri highlighted the recent protests in Hunza, where women and children played an active role in drawing attention to the issue. The demonstrations ultimately led to a government assurance to address the energy crisis by deploying thermal power solutions. However, this temporary arrangement has sparked debates among environmentalists, who express concerns over the pollution caused by diesel generators. As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, residents fear the worsening of the already dire situation. Meanwhile, several hydropower projects remain incomplete, leaving the region in desperate need of immediate solutions.

Shigri emphasized the urgency of exploring sustainable clean energy alternatives, such as solar power, to alleviate the crisis and reduce dependency on thermal power. The podcast concluded with a call for the government to prioritize long-term energy strategies, ensuring a stable power supply that aligns with Gilgit-Baltistan’s vast potential in hydropower and its critical role in Pakistan’s economic future. Undoubtedly, even in 2025, Gilgit-Baltistan continues to grapple with the challenges of sustainable electricity supply, leaving its residents burdened by persistent energy issues.

As mentioned earlier, the recent historic sit-in in Hunza, marked by the courageous participation of women and children braving the harsh, frigid climate, underscored the severity and urgency of this crisis. Widespread attention garnered via social, national, and international media compelled the central government to announce immediate relief through thermal power arrangements to address the people’s demands. With the holy month of Ramadan on the horizon, concerns about the electricity situation are mounting. Will this year bring any respite, or will the people be forced to endure the same hardships?

Furthermore, several hydropower projects remain stalled or are still in progress. While these projects hold promise, it remains uncertain whether their eventual completion will adequately meet the region's growing energy demands, leaving the future of sustainable power in Gilgit-Baltistan hanging in the balance. Over the past decade, the climatological record of Gilgit-Baltistan reveals a significant increase in the harshness and severity of cold winters. The intensification of dry cold spells has exacerbated the challenges faced by the region's inhabitants, particularly amidst an acute energy crisis.

Urbanized areas are bearing the brunt of this crisis, leaving communities struggling to meet their energy needs—a situation so dire that individuals often cannot even charge their mobile phones, let alone meet the energy needs of the region's youth working online. This situation is particularly disheartening given Gilgit-Baltistan's immense potential. The region holds the promise of a brighter future for Pakistan through its vast hydropower resources and its critical role in supporting agriculture in the southern plains, with the River Indus serving as the backbone of Pakistan's irrigation system.

Be that as it may, the power supply situation has deteriorated to such an alarming extent that city dwellers have been receiving electricity for barely two hours a day—a dire state of affairs that continues unabated. This persisting severity of energy shortage recently triggered widespread protests in Hunza. The demonstrations were eventually quelled after the government gave an unequivocal assurance to address their needs through the provision of thermal power. Nonetheless, this development has sparked a debate among those with environmental concerns, who argue that this makeshift arrangement could lead to increased pollution due to harmful emissions from diesel generators. However, given the circumstances, it appears that there is no immediate solution to resolving the crisis other than relying on thermal power to meet public demand.

The government of Punjab, I believe, had announced an initiative to encourage households to adopt solar power by providing solar panels, possibly at subsidized rates, for installation on rooftops to meet domestic energy requirements. Whether this scheme is currently implemented or not, the central government should urgently consider introducing a similar program for the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan. This proposed scheme could provide solar panels to individual households or offer options for community-level installations, such as clusters of houses, villages, or even hotels, depending on the specific needs. Such a facility would serve as a practical interim solution to address the energy crisis until the completion of ongoing hydropower projects in the region.

Moreover, empowering communities along the CPEC route and in tourist destinations with solar energy would ensure a more sustainable and durable solution, benefiting tourism and trade in the region. This step would not only address the immediate energy challenges but also contribute to the long-term economic and environmental resilience of Gilgit-Baltistan. The central government should consider implementing a tailored solar energy scheme for Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure the uninterrupted flow of tourists and facilitate seamless trade activities via the Khunjerab Pass with China. The proposed measures would empower local communities by providing access to clean and sustainable energy, enabling them to meet their ongoing needs effectively.

Such a scheme would not only alleviate the region's energy crisis but also foster economic growth by supporting tourism and cross-border trade, both vital for the prosperity of the area. In addition, the excess power generated through the proposed solar energy scheme could be sold to the Power Department, allowing it to be utilized for the public interest. This not only ensures that the communities have reliable energy for their own needs but also contributes to the broader energy supply, helping to alleviate the region’s power shortages. The sale of surplus solar power would create a sustainable model for energy distribution while supporting the local economy and enhancing energy security in Gilgit-Baltistan.

A compelling column by Imtiaz Ali Sultan recently surfaced on social media, shedding light on the commendable efforts of Raja Shehbaz Khan of Gulmit, Upper Hunza—a former Gilgit-Baltistan Council ticket-holder—in his pursuit of securing free electricity from the Tashqurghan Grid in neighboring Xinjiang, China. The article highlighted that the Chinese authorities had already initiated practical measures to supply electricity to Hunza-Nagar as part of the project's first phase. Raja Shehbaz, showing remarkable determination, had reportedly secured the necessary approvals from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Water and Power. Furthermore, he had filed a comprehensive summary with the Chief Secretary’s office in Gilgit-Baltistan to expedite the process of facilitating this cross-border energy supply.

Yet, despite the growing energy demands of the region and the willingness of Chinese authorities to provide clean energy, the matter remains inexplicably stalled. This revelation is both startling and troubling. It raises critical questions about why such a promising initiative, which could significantly alleviate the region’s energy crisis and foster stronger ties with China, is mired in bureaucratic inertia. The delay is particularly concerning given the urgency of addressing Gilgit-Baltistan’s acute energy shortages and the evident opportunity to access sustainable, reliable electricity from a neighboring ally. Such dithering undermines the region's progress and denies its residents the benefits of a ready and feasible solution.

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