Energy Resources Power Without Light, Dr Shabir Choudhry

 Energy Resources Power Without Light, Dr Shabir Choudhry

A chapter from my book, The Price of Occupation, Power to Pakistan and Darkness for Us.

There are 25 sectors of the Azad Kashmir economy; here, I am only discussing one sector.

 

Azad Kashmir is blessed with abundant water resources. The rivers of Neelum, Jhelum, and Poonch have the capacity to generate thousands of megawatts of electricity. Yet, despite this immense wealth, the people of Azad Kashmir continue to suffer from load-shedding, high tariffs, and underdevelopment.

 

How does Pakistan exploit POK?

 

Power Project      Capacity (MW)     Annual Generation (GWh)

 

Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant:       969 MW        Annual 4,630 GWH

Mangla Dam:                                      1,150 MW     Annual 5,000 GWH

Kohala Hydropower Project:                  1,124 MW.    Annual 4,800 GWH

Gulpur Hydropower Plant:                    102 MW        Annual 465    GWH

Patrind Hydropower Plant:                    150  MW       Annual 632.5  GWH

Azad Pattan Hydropower Project:          700 MW        Annual 3,064  GWH

New Bong Escape Hydropower Plant:      84 MW          Annual 550   GWH

23 small hydro projects produce:             79.12 MW   Annual 280   GWH

 

Total:4358.12 MW   Total:19,421.5 GWH     

 

 

GWh stands for Gigawatt-hour.

•  1 Watt (W) = a very small unit of power (like a tiny bulb).

•  1 Kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 Watts (e.g., a small heater).

•  1 Megawatt (MW) = 1,000 kW (e.g., a medium-sized power plant turbine).

•  1 Gigawatt (GW) = 1,000 MW (e.g., a very large power plant or several dams combined).

The “hour (h)” means it measures energy over time (not just instant power). So:

·       1 GWh = using 1 GW (Gigawatt) of power for 1 hour.

·       It equals 1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh).

·       A 100-watt light bulb running for 10 hours = 1 kWh.

·       A small town might use a few GWh per year.

 

In the case of AJK: When we say Neelum–Jhelum plant produces 4,630 GWh/year, it means it generates 4.63 billion units of electricity every year (since 1 kWh = 1 “unit” on your electricity bill).

 

Let me put it in perspective for you:

·       AJK consumption: 350 MW

·       AJK production:    4358.12 MW 

·       Electricity stolen by Pakistan:4008.12 MW

1 megawatt=1000 Kilowatt. In total, how many units does Pakistan steal every year, and how much is it in Pakistani rupees?

 

6.1    How much electricity does Pakistan steal every year from Azad Kashmir?

 

Pakistan steals about 35.1 billion units (kWh) of electricity every year from Azad Kashmir.

 

At an average price of Rs. 30 per unit in Pakistan, this amounts to roughly Rs. 1.05 trillion annually. In simple language, in the sector of hydroelectric, Pakistan steals Rs 1.05 trillion annually from Azad Kashmir.

 

1 trillion in Urdu is 1 Kharbb per annum. The total budget of Azad Kashmir for the fiscal year 2024-2025 was RS 264 billion. 2

 

So, anyone can tell who feeds whom. This is just one sector or one source of the Azad Kashmiri income if we were independent and we had our own State Bank.

 

All the electricity generated in Azad Kashmir is automatically taken into Pakistan’s national grid because all the hydropower projects are owned and controlled by WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan).

 

Because we are ‘Azad’, independent, Azad Kashmir itself has no independent transmission authority; the grid is integrated with Pakistan’s NTDC (National Transmission & Despatch Company).

 

A bitter reality is that the electricity we generate inside Azad Kashmir never comes under the Azad Kashmir government’s control. Sadly, the electricity we produce has to be bought back for local consumption. Although we produce 4358.12 MW and our consumption is 350 MW, we still suffer from long power cuts and shortages because distribution is completely under Islamabad’s control.

 

In other words, the so-called Azad Kashmir is an electric producer without ownership, supplying more electricity than it consumes, yet having no say in how it is used.

 

I hope you understand and agree with me that it is the most painful truth. Sadly, if we speak about this truth, we suffer, and are castigated as traitors, agents of foreign powers, enemies of Pakistan and enemies of Islam.

 

As pointed out above, Azad Kashmir is blessed with natural resources, including an immense hydropower potential (over 8,000 MW in AJK alone); yet the people of Azad Kashmir are not permitted to even produce 1 MW of electricity independently.

 

Every project — whether big dams like Mangla and Neelum–Jhelum or even small-scale hydropower schemes — must get approval from WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan) and Islamabad.

 

This means control of our natural resources is with our powerful neighbour, Pakistan. The region, known as Azad Kashmir, has no control over its natural resources. Those who serve the interests of Pakistan are imposed upon us as our ‘elected leaders’, and exploitation continues unchecked.

A simple message:

Azad Kashmir produces electricity, but it does not own it. The people face shortages while their rivers irrigate the Pakistani land, and electricity produced here helps to fuel Pakistan’s industries and cities.

Urgent message. An emergency shall be declared soon, followed by annexation. Killers must be punished.

 Urgent message. An emergency shall be declared soon, followed by annexation. Killers must be punished.

 

A famous loyalist, Masood Khan, shall be the new President.

Those who have killed people must not be allowed to go back. Where there was no firing, they can go back.

https://youtu.be/u963aPFdjEM

A letter to Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. 9 June 2026

 A letter to Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH

9 June 2026

Dear Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary,

Subject: Human Rights Situation in Pakistan-Administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

I am writing to draw your urgent attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (commonly known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Gilgit-Baltistan, and to request that His Majesty's Government take a more active interest in protecting the rights and welfare of the people of these regions.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered the consequences of conflict, division, political uncertainty and external control for nearly eight decades. While international attention often focuses on developments elsewhere in the region, serious human rights concerns in the territories administered by Pakistan receive comparatively little scrutiny despite their profound impact on local populations.

Recent developments have generated widespread concern among residents and members of the Kashmiri diaspora. Reports indicate the deployment of more than 20,000 security personnel, including Rangers, Frontier Constabulary, and police units, from various parts of Pakistan. There have been allegations of excessive use of force against demonstrators, arrests of political activists, restrictions on freedom of expression, communication disruptions, limitations on independent reporting and the suppression of peaceful political activity.

As a result, lives have reportedly been lost, many people have been injured, and numerous individuals have been detained. Families continue to live under conditions of uncertainty and fear. The situation has been further aggravated by restrictions on communication, Internet blocking, and the absence of independent media access, making it difficult for the outside world to obtain a clear and impartial picture of developments on the ground.

Gilgit-Baltistan faces similar challenges. Despite its immense strategic importance and vast natural resources, many local people continue to complain of political marginalisation, inadequate constitutional protections, restrictions on genuine democratic participation and limited control over their own resources and future. There is also growing concern regarding demographic changes, land ownership issues and the long-term political status of the region.

The United Kingdom cannot entirely separate itself from these developments. The origins of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute are closely connected to the circumstances surrounding the transfer of power in 1947. Britain, therefore, carries a historical and moral responsibility to support efforts aimed at protecting human rights, democratic freedoms and peaceful conflict resolution throughout the former State of Jammu and Kashmir.

I respectfully urge His Majesty's Government to:

• Closely monitor the human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

• Raise concerns with the Government of Pakistan regarding allegations of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression and limitations on peaceful political activity.

• Encourage independent international human rights monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

• Support democratic reforms, transparency, accountability and the rule of law in both territories.

• Engage directly with representatives of civil society, human rights defenders and community organisations from these regions.

• Ensure that humanitarian and development assistance intended for the people of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan reaches local communities in a transparent and accountable manner.

Many residents believe that aid allocated in their name does not always reach those for whom it is intended. There is a widespread perception that funds channelled through Islamabad or other central authorities frequently fail to address local needs adequately. For this reason, any assistance provided by the United Kingdom should, wherever possible, be independently monitored and delivered through transparent mechanisms that directly benefit local communities.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan require international attention not because they seek confrontation, but because they seek dignity, justice, democratic representation, economic opportunity and respect for their fundamental human rights.

I would also respectfully submit that the future of Jammu and Kashmir should ultimately be determined by the people of the former State themselves and not imposed by India, Pakistan or China. Lasting peace and stability can only emerge when the voices and aspirations of the people concerned are genuinely respected.

I therefore urge the British Government to raise these matters with the relevant authorities and to use its influence to encourage respect for human rights, democratic principles and peaceful dialogue.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Shabir Choudhry
Author, Political Analyst and Human Rights Advocate
London, United Kingdom.

Copies to:

• The Prime Minister,
• The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
• The Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights,

·       Shabana Mahmood, MP and Home Secretary,

·       Imran Hussain, Chairman of the All-Parties Parliamentary Group,

·       UN.org,

·       Human Rights Watch,

·       Amnesty International,

·       Freeassembly,

·       Ohchr,

·       Freedomhouse,

·       Aiusa.org

 

 

--

Dr Shabir Choudhry

 Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people."

Jihad against the Pakistani oppression will continue. Mountbatten made Pakistan a party to the dispute.

  

Jihad against the Pakistani oppression will continue. Mountbatten made Pakistan a party to the dispute.

 

The matter was between India and Jammu and Kashmir, and the people. We promote the flag that was the state’s flag before the illegal Pakistani attack on 22 October.

https://youtu.be/VEA8CJXoUQg

Important

 Important

 

Soon, an emergency could be declared in Azad Kashmir, followed by a massive oppression. After that, part two of the Washington Pact, agreed among Trump, Modi and Imran Khan, would be implemented.

 

Prime Minister Modi terminated the status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir, and both regions were declared Union territories. Articles 370 and 35A were abrogated.

 

Pakistan did not do anything apart from issuing a statement.

 

It is believed that Pakistan now has to the same and declare Azad Kashmir a Federally Administered territory.

The Action Committee DOES NOT advance terrorism. Aspirations of the people must be respected.

 The Action Committee DOES NOT advance terrorism. Aspirations of the people must be respected.

 

The Pakistani elite must learn from past mistakes. We don’t want more bloodshed. Collaborators must express their loyalty to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

https://youtu.be/9emXY5ZgAUo

UKPNP Condemns the Killing of Shahzaib Habib and Injury of Umar Nazir, Calls for Independent Investigation and Protection of Democratic Rights. Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri

 UKPNP Condemns the Killing of Shahzaib Habib and Injury of Umar Nazir, Calls for Independent Investigation and Protection of Democratic Rights. Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri

June 6, 2026

The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) strongly condemns the killing of Shahzaib Habib and the injury of Umar Nazir after their vehicle was reportedly targeted on the night of June 5, 2026, while returning from Khaigala to Rawalakot in Poonch.

According to reports, the vehicle carrying Umar Nazir, a Core Committee Member of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), came under attack near Barmanag. The incident resulted in the tragic death of Shahzaib Habib, a close friend, trusted associate, and media adviser to Umar Nazir. Umar Nazir sustained injuries in the attack.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), strongly condemned this brutal act and expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Shahzaib Habib. He also wished Umar Nazir a swift and complete recovery.

The UKPNP Chairman demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called upon the relevant authorities to conduct a transparent, impartial, and independent investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought before the law without delay.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri stated that UKPNP firmly believes in peaceful political struggle and strongly opposes violence, regardless of whether it is perpetrated by a state, institution, group, or individual. He noted that Umar Nazir has consistently advocated peaceful and nonviolent methods in his public speeches and political activities. Even after suffering the loss of one of his closest friends, Umar Nazir has appealed to the public to remain calm, peaceful, and nonviolent, a position that deserves recognition.

The UKPNP has consistently encouraged the Joint Awami Action Committee to pursue its objectives through peaceful and democratic means while remaining vigilant and focused on its legitimate demands. The party believes that peaceful engagement and dialogue remain the most effective means of addressing political and public grievances.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri further stated that the reported decision to declare the Joint Awami Action Committee a proscribed organization constitutes a draconian and undemocratic measure that raises serious concerns regarding internationally recognized rights and freedoms. He emphasized that the rights to peaceful assembly, association, organization, and freedom of expression are protected under international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

He noted that only days earlier, representatives of the Government of Pakistan, institutions, and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government had been engaged in negotiations and dialogue with the Joint Awami Action Committee and calling them their brothers. During that period, no major incidents of violence were reported. Therefore, the sudden characterization of the organization as a terrorist entity raises serious questions and warrants careful review.

The UKPNP reiterates that the use of force against peaceful civilians, political activists, and human rights defenders cannot be justified under any circumstances. The party stresses that violence, intimidation, and suppression only deepen public grievances and create further instability. Sustainable solutions can only be achieved through dialogue, negotiations, and democratic engagement.

The party calls upon the authorities in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to reconsider and reverse measures that restrict the democratic and political rights of citizens and to ensure that individuals are able to exercise their rights peacefully and lawfully.

Furthermore, the UKPNP encourages the Joint Awami Action Committee to continue reviewing its policies and demands, including issues relating to the twelve reserved Kashmiri refugee seats, so that all legitimate objectives may be pursued through peaceful, democratic, and inclusive means without placing lives at risk.

The UKPNP also reminds its members and supporters to remain vigilant and responsible. Members are advised not to circulate unverified information, rumors, AI-generated videos, manipulated audio recordings, or other forms of misinformation. The party's central leadership is closely monitoring developments and will make decisions based on verified facts and circumstances.

All members are strongly advised to follow official party communications and updates through authorized UKPNP social media platforms and communication channels.

Issued by:

Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan
Central Spokesperson
United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP)
June 6, 2026