GILGIT: The protest led by traders and supported by political parties against the centre’s trade policies intensified on Sunday as protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) for traffic.

Local importers and exporters have been protesting against what they call the exploitative policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

A local PML-N leader said the federal government — led by his party — was not serious in addressing the protesters’ demand.

The sit-in against the revenue body entered its third day at Gulmat Nagar on Sunday.

The protesters have vowed the road connecting Pakistan with China will remain closed to traffic till the acceptance of their demands.

Thousands of passengers and tourists remained stranded on both sides of the road for many hours, with long queues of vehicles seen on both sides on Sunday.

‘Economic murder’

The call for protest was issued by the Pak-China Traders Action Comm­it­tee, an alliance comprising the Gilgit-Baltistan Impor­ters and Exporters Asso­ciation; Gilgit-Nagar Cham­ber of Commerce;........

© Dawn Business