Gilgit, March 23 -- Residents of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) are grappling with mounting economic distress as inflation, rising transport costs, and fears of additional taxation intensify hardships for already vulnerable communities. Locals have voiced strong concerns over the worsening cost of living, describing the situation as increasingly unsustainable for poor households.

A resident highlighted that the region's disputed status makes the imposition of further taxes unjustifiable. According to him, people are already burdened with existing levies, and any additional taxation would disproportionately harm the poor. He argued that even when taxes are imposed on traders, the ultimate impact is borne by low-income consumers...