On the call of High Court Bar Association of the Pakistan Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (POGB), the lawyers observed a complete strike against the ‘targeted wheat subsidy’ imposed by the occupying government. According to the decision, no lawyer attended the court.
Meanwhile, a protest rally was organized by Awami Action Committee in Yasin Ghizar, POGB. Thousands of people gathered in the protest and raised their voice against ending wheat subsidy. The protest comes a day after Awami Action Committee held a meeting and a press conference in Gilgit Press Club.
During the meeting, two factions of the Awami Action Committee united and it was decided to establish a core committee for joint struggle. Through the meeting, the committee sent a clear message to the occupying government. The committee outrightly rejected the price hike of wheat and announced to hold a regular movement against it.
Additionally, Awami Action Committee also declared that it will only negotiate with the government in Pakistan and not with the occupying government. Considerably, the occupying government has reduced the wheat subsidy which has exerted extra pressure on the native civilians.
According to the official notification, the cost of wheat has increased from Rs. 20 to Rs. 52 while the subsidy has been reduced from Rs. 125.165 to Rs. 93.165. Furthermore, with latest announcement, the ‘targeted wheat subsidy’ was also imposed, according to which subsidy would only be provided to a section of people with less than a set bar of income while for rest it has been abolished.