(ANI) Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges. But, the region is losing its luster and brilliance owing to the constant human interference.
The multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is touted as one of the biggest game changer, has not only crippled the flora and fauna of the region but has proven detrimental to the life of humans too.
The locals fear the construction and movement of traffic in the mountainous region will severely impact its natural beauty.
Alam Noor, a local resident, said, "When CPEC transport will move from here then environmental pollution will certainly escalate and there will be an increase in the sound pollution too, so proper surveys are required to be done so that human health which is likely to be damaged can be minimised."
The exploitation of resources in the region has adversely affected the mountains and the rivers of the region.
Locals say that federal and the provincial government are hand in glove with each other in deteriorating the environment.
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Ali Sher, another local resident said, "Years-old customs and traditions of this place are likely to get damaged because of the CPEC and I don't think that any of the government, whether it is federal government or local government is playing any significant role in controlling the deterioration of the environment. They are just focused at their interests and are paying no attention to the environment which is getting most affected due to the project."
The people in Gilgit Baltistan are worried that vehicular movement will cause many diseases and it will also change the weather dynamics of the region.
Mohammad Essa said, "A region where thousands of vehicles will pass once the CPEC is started, there will be noise pollution and there will be sound pollution. It will drastically affect the people's health as and it will only aggravate various diseases as. There will be a change in the temperature too, so government should be focusing on these issues and take a precautionary measure against these problems."
Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and is under the occupation of Pakistan since 1947 and ever since then Pakistan has been misruling the region.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor traverses through this region which has a special constitutional status in Pakistan and deserves to enjoy some extraordinary rights.
However, on the contrary, people of the region have only witnessed their rights getting suppressed, a second class citizen treatment and now health hazards in the name of development.