Washington, May 21 — Senge Sering, president of the Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies, has sharply criticised how Pakistan is managing governance and environmental threats in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), accusing the military establishment of exploiting the region’s resources while neglecting local communities facing climate-driven hazards.
In a recorded statement, Sering said Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings about Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), but that these warnings have limited effect because the military controls regional administration. He alleged that large-scale infrastructure projects and dam construction being advanced in partnership with China are accelerating environmental degradation across PoGB.
Sering warned that mega-dams and unchecked extraction of natural resources are raising the risk of floods and ecological damage. He further claimed that funds earmarked for flood forecasting and disaster management are being redirected elsewhere, leaving communities exposed during each flood season.
He highlighted repeated damage to roads in districts such as Diamer and Hunza, saying authorities deliberately avoid permanent repairs so that organisations linked to the military can profit from ongoing reconstruction work. The recurring loss of transport links, he added, drives up food prices and produces acute shortages in remote mountainous areas.
Sering also said residents of Hunza, Ghazar, Diamer and Shigar increasingly depend on volunteer efforts to clear blocked roads and restore connectivity, while administrative control remains tightly held by the Pakistani military. He described fuel shortages and economic strain as factors deepening public frustration in PoGB.
Arguing for greater local autonomy, Sering said the region’s resources could sustain its own development if managed locally. He accused Pakistan of treating PoGB primarily as a source for “stealing and exploitation” and warned that continued military dominance would further worsen the economic and environmental plight of the region’s inhabitants.
This report is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received; The Tribune disclaims responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
