PoGB traders protest enters critical phase; students caught in deadlock

Sep 22, 2025

PoGB, 22 September, 2025: Protests at the Sost border point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor continue, as traders stage a sit-in demanding policy reforms. They are protesting the collection of sales tax, income tax, and excise duty by the federal government from the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, opposing the imposition of federal taxes on the region. The ongoing demonstration has completely halted cross-border movement. Among the affected are students bound for China, now stranded with their academic deadlines fast approaching. Amid the ongoing protest, traders have also raised strong objections to what they call a biased portrayal of their sit-in. They accuse certain media outlets of labeling their peaceful demonstration as disruptive or unlawful. Former Finance Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and current Assembly Member, Javed Hussain Manwa, publicly condemned this media narrative, calling it an unjust attack on the region’s longstanding struggle for rights. As the strike continues with no resolution in sight, the situation at Sost remains tense.