Unfair taxation at Sost Dry Port sparks economic crisis for PoGB traders

Aug 05, 2025

Sost Dry Port, PoGB, 05 AUGUST 2025: - For over three years, traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have staged protests at the Sost Dry Port, demanding an end to customs delays and federal taxes on imports. Despite a July 2024 court ruling that exempts them from certain federal taxes, customs officials allegedly continue to enforce them. Protest leaders now allege unlawful detentions aimed at derailing their movement. Traders say their protest is a peaceful demand for constitutional rights and warn authorities against escalating tensions. With authorities still unresponsive and tensions mounting, traders warn that if their grievances continue to be ignored, the unrest in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan could spiral into a much larger crisis.