Over the past three months, tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets Originally from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). chants like „“Haihak Hamra Kudumuktari!” (“Self-government is our right!”) echoed.People gathered from all over the country unprecedented There are many calls for change in this glacier region of northern Pakistan.
Since Pakistan's independence from Britain in 1947, the GB lacked political representation in parliament. in spite of, historical struggle To eliminate this inequality with other regions, GB has no seats in either the House of Commons.
In the 1970s, the Pakistani government gave G.B. wheat subsidy This made it possible to purchase wheat at a quarter of the world price. Such subsidies are general In developing countries, including developing countries, middle east. This arrangement is new constitution For Pakistan then: the British people wanted Expanding constitutional rights and representation In return, Pakistan's government received wheat subsidies and other subsidies. Necessities. In November this year, the British Prime Minister announced subsidy cuts and a significant increase in wheat prices. pressure From the federal government. For protesters, removing the wheat subsidy would mean further weakening of government support, as GB is an impoverished conflict zone dependent on government subsidies for basic necessities. The current protests thus embody a growing desire for autonomy and autonomy that the Pakistani government has historically denied to GB citizens.
Since Pakistan's independence from Britain in 1947, the GB lacked political representation in parliament. in spite of, historical struggle To eliminate this inequality with other regions, GB has no seats in either the House of Commons.
In the 1970s, the Pakistani government gave G.B. wheat subsidy This made it possible to purchase wheat at a quarter of the world price. Such subsidies are general In developing countries, including developing countries, middle east. This arrangement is new constitution For Pakistan then: the British people wanted Expanding constitutional rights and representation In return, Pakistan's government received wheat subsidies and other subsidies. Necessities. In November this year, the British Prime Minister announced subsidy cuts and a significant increase in wheat prices. pressure From the federal government. For protesters, removing the wheat subsidy would mean further weakening of government support, as GB is an impoverished conflict zone dependent on government subsidies for basic necessities. The current protests thus embody a growing desire for autonomy and autonomy that the Pakistani government has historically denied to GB citizens.
![Map of Pakistan with Gilgit-Baltistan highlighted in red.](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1200px-Baltistan_in_Gilgit-Baltistan_Pakistan.svg_-650x393.png)
(Millenioscuro / creative commons)
The protests led by Awami Action Committee (AAC) – an association of political, social, and religious groups centered on: Fight calls for restoration of wheat subsidies and 15 other demands charter of demands Released in January 2024. Rrecent news Indicates that a protest is taking place Ongoing This will continue until all requests are met. The protests are historic; unprecedentedthe longest in the region's history and bridging a broader range of demands than past protests.
Wheat subsidies helped reduce food insecurity, but economists say they also had the following effects: stunted Disincentivizing increased regional self-sufficiency and local production of grains. The GB region is rugged and mountainous. They have little agricultural land and rely on the government for many basic necessities, including food. The region has specialized in producing high-value crops on agriculturally suitable land. especially vegetables Food such as potatoes and peas were imported, and the country became dependent on grains. Until recently, the prevailing price of wheat was PKR 20 per kg, equivalent to USD 0.072.However, in January this year, the government raised the price of wheat The price has increased by 80% from PKR 20 to PKR 36 (US$0.13) per kg. gradually increase Furthermore, the price is now 52 Puppies (US$0.19) per kg.
This change to GB wheat policy concerns both climate change and the Russian-Ukrainian war.
walter beisgenA senior researcher at the Columbia Climate School explained how climate change is exacerbating existing agricultural challenges. Since 2010, due to rising temperatures due to climate change, significant glacier meltingThe resulting floods and landslides killed and forced the evacuation of many people in the UK. Melting glaciers will also impact the traditional irrigation systems that have long supported GB's basic food supplies and market crops.
Baethgen pointed out that wheat is sensitive to excess moisture in the soil, so „water retention in the soil has a negative impact on wheat production.“ He added that climate change will also cause „high-frequency heat waves that affect not only human health but also crop yields.“
Even before rising temperatures and flooding, Britain had limited areas suitable for farming. “The war reduced the availability of wheat on the international market, which increased production costs,” Beisgen explained. However, the combined effects of retreating glaciers and war in Ukraine have hit both local and imported food sources, leading to increased hunger in the region.
![Landscape with irrigated fields](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/25526298473_167cb77410_c-650x434.jpg)
![Landscape with irrigated fields](https://sotp.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/25526298473_167cb77410_c-650x434.jpg)
Before the war, Ukraine was the largest exporter of wheat to Pakistan, but later Russia became the largest exporter of wheat to Pakistan. occupied the place. In July 2022, Russian missiles attacked and destroyed wheat silos in the port of Odessa storing Ukraine's wheat harvest, causing a drop in world wheat prices. historic high; it even exceeded the price during the 2008 global financial crisis. This economic turmoil reduced the supply of wheat to England. Pakistan's government has raised wheat prices in part because of high foreign debt and high grain import prices. Food insecurity is currently on the rise in the UK, coupled with a number of other human rights issues, leading to months of civil unrest.
Still, the protests have global significance because they represent a fusion of militarization, climate change, and struggles for autonomy. „There is no doubt that the reduction in wheat allocation to GB is a direct result of the global crisis facing Pakistan, including a very high external debt.“ Manan Ahmedsaid a Columbia University historian in an interview with GlacierHub.
Kamini Masood candidate in the Columbia University History Department from central Pakistan. Massoud pointed out that British protesters are demanding more than just the restoration of wheat subsidies. In historically marginalized regions like GB, many other subsidies have also been cut, adding to „economic pressures on populations whose access to health care, education and employment infrastructure is already severely limited.“ „I do,“ she explained. Therefore, the protesters are also demanding an increase in the allocation of government spending to GB under this bill. National Finance Commission Award From the central government of Pakistan.
This is because Pakistan is still slowly recovering from the massive damage. Flood of 2022„It seems unlikely that the protesters' demands will be meaningfully met,“ Massoud said.
According to Masoud, these protests are particularly notable for their scale and the breadth of the demands associated with them. While characterizing the cancellation of the wheat subsidy as a „close relationship“, Masood explained that it is an important symbol of the often „extractive and exploitative“ relationship between the Pakistani state and the British territories.
Ahmed believes these problems are „likely to spread across Pakistan as other urban centers face incredible inflation, rising food prices and power grid failures.“ There is. Even considering the environmental issues wreaking havoc in regions like GB, Pakistan's election season was marked by notable events. Lack of climate change agenda. With another hot summer upon us and no end in sight to the war between Russia and Ukraine, these environmental issues remain important. Although the government has agreed to reduce the price from P52 to P36, prices are still above 2022 levels. The protesters don't move.rear sleepover Having been running on the streets of Britain in sub-zero temperatures this winter, they are now marching into spring until more demands are met.