Students block Karakoram Highway over teacher shortage

Say Kohistan is important region but still lacks govt attention


Our Correspondent October 02, 2015
Students block KKH against the shortage of teachers. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KOHISTAN: In protest against the shortage of teachers at their institute, students of Government Degree College Pattan of Kohistan blocked Karakoram Highway (KKH) for over three hours on Thursday.

The police and college administration said students boycotted their classes Thursday morning to protest the shortage of teachers for biology, chemistry and English. “The current provincial government promised to fill the vacant posts in the college which has over 1,000 students, but no such development has taken place,” a protesting student told The Express Tribune. “There is also dearth of facilities such as transport and a hostel for students who come from far-off areas.”

The students burnt tyres on KKH and placed heavy stones to block the thoroughfare for traffic. Since the route connects Gilgit-Baltistan and China, a large number of vehicles were stuck for three hours.

Students decried the government for ignoring the region, saying, “Kohistan is ignored despite the fact that it is likely to turn into a hub of economic activities in future after hydropower projects start functioning here.”

However, the protesters later dispersed peacefully after being placated by local elders who conveyed the message of the deputy commissioner: alternative arrangements would be made till teachers were posted at the college. The students warned if their demands are not met within 10 days, they would take to the streets again.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2015.

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