Highlights
- Foreign companies, especially Chinese, are extracting valuable minerals in Gilgit-Baltistan with minimal consultation or benefit to local communities.
- Mining activities raise serious concerns about transparency, resource sharing, and the rights of indigenous populations.
- Local activists and movements are demanding reforms to ensure equitable resource management and sovereignty for the region.
The recent exploitation of valuable mineral resources in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) has sparked growing concerns about transparency, justice, and the rights of local communities. This region, known for its rich deposits of gold, copper, and rare earth minerals, is witnessing large-scale extraction by foreign entities and local elites with minimal consultation or benefit to its residents.
In Pakistan-occupied PoGB, foreign involvement in mining activities has been notably prominent, particularly from Chinese companies. These entities have secured mining leases and are actively engaged in extracting valuable minerals such as copper, gold, and uranium. For instance, Chinese miners have acquired leases in the Astore district to extract high-quality copper and are involved in tunnel building and mineral exploration in areas like the Chapursan Valley in upper Hunza. Additionally, Shahzad International, a company coordinating with Chinese investors, is one of the largest foreign contractors in the region, focusing on uranium and gold extraction, according to the Economic Times.
These activities have raised concerns among local communities regarding transparency, equitable resource sharing, and environmental impacts. Reports indicate that the involvement of foreign companies, especially Chinese, has led to tensions, with locals alleging that these entities refuse to share revenue from resource exploitation and that their presence poses a threat to the rights of the natives over their land and resources.
The situation underscores the need for responsible mining practices that consider the rights and well-being of local populations, ensuring that resource extraction benefits the region’s inhabitants and is conducted sustainably.
These issues were reported (opens in a new tab) yesterday in India’s Public TV English (opens in a new tab). Some key issues identified:
| Issues | Summary |
|---|---|
| Opaque Contracts and Exploitation | Reports reveal that mining leases, such as those in the 2020 PoGB contract, are being awarded to companies registered under false names, allegedly controlled by individuals from major Pakistani cities and religious institutions. Residents have been excluded from discussions and benefits. |
| Silence from Leaders | Political and religious leaders, usually vocal on national and regional issues, have remained silent on this unchecked exploitation. Their lack of response raises suspicions of complicity or fear of challenging the powerful entities involved. |
| Impact on Local Communities | Residents, who should be primary stakeholders in decisions affecting their natural resources, are left out of the process. This exclusion undermines their rights and deprives them of economic and social benefits from these valuable resources. |
| Human Rights and Sovereignty | Activists and human rights groups emphasize that the issue extends beyond economics. It is about justice, sovereignty, and the inclusion of local voices in decision-making. They demand transparency and fair resource sharing. |
The Gilgit-Baltistan Province of Pakistan is rich in a variety of natural resources and minerals, including:
- Gemstones: The region is famous for its gemstones, particularly from the Hunza and Skardu regions. Some of the gemstones found in the region include rubies, aquamarine, topaz, emerald, and tourmaline.
- Marbles: The region has large deposits of marble.
- Other minerals: The region also contains limestone, gypsum, shales, clays, cement raw materials, coal, graphite, antimony, arsenic, polymetallic sulphone’s, gold, and radioactive minerals.
- Building stones: The region has rich deposits of building stones.
The mining sector in Gilgit-Baltistan has the potential to contribute significantly to the region’s economic growth. However, mining activities should be conducted with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and responsible practices.
Figures like Aliya Naz from the Gilgit-Baltistan Rights Movement are calling for urgent reforms to ensure that the people of PoGB can benefit from their region’s resources and have a say in their management.
The Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) is a political movement of Gilgit-Baltistan based in Skardu, Pakistan. It demands a fully autonomous state consisting of Gilgit and Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas.
The GBUM states that the Gilgit (opens in a new tab)-Baltistan regions, formerly known as the Northern Areas, should be denoted “Gilgit-Baltistan” and that the Northern Areas Legislative Council should be given the status of an “Independent Constitutional Assembly” and given similar rights granted to the existing Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
This situation highlights the critical need for transparent governance, equitable resource distribution, and greater accountability from political and religious leaders to safeguard the rights and futures of the people in PoGB.
Daniel
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