SKARDU, Oct 17: Hundreds of people took out a rally here the other day against the communication ministry and the Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan minister for cancelling the Skardu-Gilgit Road widening project.

The protesters walked from Yadgar-i-Shuhada to the press club building shouting slogans against the communication ministry officials and minister Manzoor Wattoo.

The rally was organised by Baltistan Youth Forum, Anjuman-i-Tajiran and notables.

At the press club, leader of protesters Bashir Ahmad said the project was launched eight years ago at the cost of Rs122 billion mostly to be given by the Chinese government but the Chinese firm working on it went away due to non-payment of dues from National Highway Authority.

He said the project was later cancelled after the communication ministry declared it unimportant.

Another leader of protesters, Wazir Ikhlaq, said if Skardu-Gilgit Road widening project was not restored, people of Baltistan would take to the streets.

Protesters demanded early resumption of work on the project.