Doctors in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have announced they will begin protests in 15 days if their demands for service regularization and promotions are not met. They said that the occupied-Pakistan authorities are ignoring their grievances, further deepening the frustration within the region’s already marginalized healthcare sector.
The doctors complain about stagnant career paths and the denial of promotions, and the neglect faced by the region under Pakistan’s control. Despite playing a critical role in healthcare delivery, medical professionals in the area are treated unfairly, and local authorities have made little effort to address these issues.
The crisis in healthcare reflects the broader challenges faced by POGB, a region that remains one of the most underdeveloped under Pak Army control. Residents lack access to proper roads, healthcare, education, and other essential services, with corruption and mismanagement compounding their difficulties. The continuing neglect threatens the future of the region, which already suffers from limited economic opportunities and persistent poverty.
The roots of POGB’s plight date back to 1949, when Pakistan forcefully incorporated the region into the Kashmir issue without the consent of its people. From the start, locals were considered incapable of self-governance and subjected to the oppressive Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), a colonial-era law that denied basic civil rights.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s, under the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, that the FCR was abolished. However, even after this reform, the region has remained in a state of chronic underdevelopment and political marginalization. Despite being promised greater autonomy, residents still struggle with socio-economic challenges, exacerbated by the Paki establishment’s disregard for their needs.