THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEGLECT ON THE MOUNTAINOUS PERIPHERY: EVIDENCE FROM SKARDU-GILGIT ROAD, PAKISTAN

The study examines socio-economic impacts of infrastructural negligence on the Shahrah-e-Baltistan, an important and a hazardous road network that links Gilgit to Skardu, Pakistan. Using a mixed-methodology, the study integrates quantitative data of 168 participants of survey (supplemented with official fatality statistics of 2000-2025) and the qualitative data of 70 respondents of the in-depth interview and open-ended responses. The study unveils a humanitarian crisis: frequent users are incurring huge losses in finances (χ² = 16.93, p < 0.001), hence road-related conditions have led to an increase of 124% in average annual deaths in twenty years. Road closure and loss of skilled professionals are also strongly positively correlated (p = 0.42, p< 0.001). This study highlights the overall need of communities to have immediate safety measures (28% prioritize protective barriers & upgradation of existing roads) and long-term solutions (65.4% advocate reconstruction and alternative road Shaghar Thang Road Project), especially tunnels in places of high risk. In this connection, the results conclude that neglect of infrastructure exemplifies regional inequality. Thus, it urges the urgent road rehabilitation and work on alternative routes to secure human costs and socioeconomic stability.