Kohistan, Jan 17 (.) Residents from Pakistan’s KPK region of Upper Kohistan, blocked the Karakoram Highway for more than three hours on Friday, demanded that the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital be taken back from the National Integrated Development Association (NIDA), which, they claim, has failed to honour its agreement with the Health Department.
Protesters accused NIDA of failure in delivering basic healthcare services despite receiving more than abundant amount of public funds.
Speaking to demonstrators, Maulana Waliullah Tauhidee, the district president of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam–Fazl, alleged that the organisation had earned more than Rs 540 million ($1.93 million) annually for four consecutive years without ever fulfilling its obligations.
“NIDA has been drawing hundreds of millions of rupees every year while the people of Upper Kohistan remain deprived of healthcare,” he said. “If the government does not cancel this contract by Tuesday, we will return to the streets.”
The protest began at Gareen Chowk in Kamila, where residents gathered after marching through various parts of the area.
Demonstrators chanted slogans against NIDA and the Health Foundation, calling for the hospital to be returned to the direct control of the Health Department.
The blockade brought traffic on the Karakoram Highway to a standstill, leaving passengers travelling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan stranded until the protest ended.
Maulana Waliullah accused the Health Foundation of awarding the contract in violation of local rights. “The DHQ Hospital Dasu was handed over to NIDA in breach of the interests of local people, effectively denying them access to essential medical services,” he said.
The protesters dispersed after several hours, but warned that more demonstrations would follow if their demands were not met. . .