GILGIT: Gilgit-Urumqi Business Forum President Nazir Ahmad has urged the government to introduce tax concessions for the business community of Gilgit-Baltistan affected by the widening of Ataabad lake on Karakoram Highway.
Business community, whose sole source of income is Khunjerab-Sust trade route, had suffered heavily due to widening of the lake bringing a halt in Pak-China trade activities. Meanwhile its blockage has left hundreds of traders, peasants and workers jobless. However, the government has not taken any measures to help the affected community despite the fact that many consignments submerged in the lake.
Chinese government is sending some relief items for the poor families, but there has been no relief from federal government, Nazir regretted. “It is thus a high time for the government to at least provide relief for the small traders by announcing tax concessions,” Nazir Ahmad said.
In January 2010, a massive landslide blocked Hunza River around 2-3 km and submerged the road near Ataabad village. The accidental lake caused considerable damage to life and property in the area as a large portion of the Karakoram Highway was flooded between Gulmit and
