The All Zamyad Union in Balochistan’s Chagai district has announced plans for a long march to the Reko Diq Project if their demands for access to cross-border work at the Iran border are not met.
Union officials, including Mukhtar Baloch, Babul Zeb Notezai, Shah Faisal Baloch, Noor Hassan Notezai, Muhammad Baloch, Zahir Baloch, and Farooq Muhammad Hasni, made the announcement during a press conference at a protest camp outside the Deputy Commissioner’s Complex in Dalbandin.
The union representatives stated that for the past three years, their members have faced significant difficulties in securing work opportunities at the Iran border.
They noted that despite obtaining necessary stickers and verifications under the supervision of the administration and Frontier Corps (FC), 2,500 vehicles have been prevented from crossing the Iran border.
On August 19, the union blocked the main RCD Highway in protest. Following negotiations with the district administration and District Vice Chairman Mir Asfandyar Khan Yar Muhammad Zai, the union agreed to stage a peaceful protest outside the DC Complex.
However, union officials warned that if their demands are not met by August 21, they will indefinitely block the main RCD Highway in Dalbandin. If the issue remains unresolved, they plan to march to the Reko Diq Project and stage a sit-in.
The union also highlighted the economic struggles faced by the people of Balochistan’s Chagai district, who, despite living in a resource-rich region, struggle to make ends meet.
They called for urgent action to resolve the issues at the Iran border, emphasizing that cross-border trade and transport are the primary sources of livelihood for the local population.