Gilgit Baltistan, May 12 -- Traders in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan have launched a protest at the Pakistan-China Dry Port in Sost, decrying what they alleged are "illegal taxes" and deliberate delays in clearing their consignments by customs officials.

Accusing authorities of extortion and mismanagement, the protesters claimed that despite paying various taxes, their goods have been stuck at the border crossing for months, leading to severe financial losses. Frustrated by the prolonged inaction, the traders threatened to shut down the Khunjerab border -- a vital link in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- if their demands were not met.

A trader said, "We have brought our demands in written form. Constitutionally the im...