MERAJ ALAM/AGENCIES
GILGIT - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said Gilgit-Baltistan would be brought at par with the developed areas of Pakistan by launching a string of development projects.
Addressing the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, Prime Minister Sharif said corruption was unacceptable and that all the funds should be spent in a transparent manner. He directed the authorities concerned to spend development funds in transparent manner.
During the meeting, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Chaudhry Barjees Tahir gave a briefing on development projects. The governor said a special force was being established for the security of Shahra-e-Karakoram. He said a policy for protection of forests had been formulated for 30 years.
Barjees Tahir said the people of the area were thankful to the government for development package of Rs 47 billion for Gilgit-Baltistan.
The meeting was also briefed on the timber policy prepared in consultation with all the stakeholders on the directives of the prime minister.
Earlier, the prime minister arrived in Gilgit to inaugurate a number of developmental projects, including a cardiac hospital, boosters of PTV, widening of Skardu-Jaglot highway and three hydro power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The prime minister was accompanied by Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid, Special Assistant Irfan Siddiqui, Political Secretary Dr Asif Kirmani, Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar, MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Marvi Memon.
On his arrival at the Gilgit airport, the prime minister was received by Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Chaudhry Barjees Tahir, the Kashmir Affairs secretary, the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary, the FCNA commander, the IG police and GB PML-N President Hafiz Hafeezur Rahman.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also Gilgit-Baltistan Council Chairman, approved its fiscal budget for the year 2014-15 with a total outlay of Rs 780.906 million Tuesday.
He also approved the Giglit-Baltistan Council Protection of Pakistan (Adaptation) Bill, 2015, and Gilgit-Baltistan Council (Adaptation) of Laws Bill, 2015.
Briefing the prime minister, Birjees Tahir lauded Rs 47.2 billion special package for the uplift of the GB and said the people of the area highly appreciated Rs 45 million annual wheat subsidy granted by the government.
The prime minister said the government was paying special attention to the uplift of GB through key development projects, including Economic Corridor which would immensely benefit the residents of GB. “Once it becomes functional, trade and business will flourish,” he added.
He said the Gilgit airport would be expanded with sustained increase in flight operations by the international companies.
He directed the GB government to focus on taking initiatives like setting up agro-based industries and import of dry fruits, adding the federal government would assist them in execution of such projects.
The prime minister was also briefed on the Forest Working Plan spreading over a period of 30 years. He was informed that timber policy had been formulated after consulting all the stakeholders, including forest owners and community representatives, which envisaged the initiatives like regeneration of forests, which was a major component of the policy. The private forests of Diamer consisted of 73 percent of the total private forest cover of the GB whereas six disposal policies were adopted by the previous governments.
He urged the GB government to focus on exploring the avenues in forestation, minerals and tourism industry which would ultimately contribute to the development of the area.
The prime minister also approved a two-member committee to oversee disposal of timber lying with the local government since 2001.
The National Highway Authority chairman also briefed the prime minister on the 335-km Khunjrab to Raikot Road and KKH-II Raikot to Islamabad project.
He said a patch of 23km road which was submerged in the Attabad calamity would be completed soon with five tunnels at the cost of Rs 27 billion. He said Gilgit-Naltar Road would be repaired in one month.
The prime minister was pleased to note that the GB government’s steps for wildlife conservation, including the conservation of markhor and ibex, were successful.
The meeting was attended by GB Caretaker Chief Minister Sher Jahan Mir and MNAs Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Dr Darshan, Syed Iftikharul Hassan, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Amjad Hussain and Ghulam Hussain Saleem while Marvi Memon and Political Secretary to PM Dr Asif Kirmani were also present.
Meanwhile, addressing a large gathering here at Lalak Jan Stadium, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said he believed in politics of decency and not of containers. He said the objective of the PML-N government was selfless service for the masses.
He announced setting up of a committee, headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, to look into the issue of constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Prime Minister Sharif said his opponents were adept in the art of abusing, telling lies and making false claims. On the contrary, his politics revolved around using polite language, decency, honesty and devoted service for the welfare of the masses.
The prime minister said the government was committed to the uplift of the area and announced Hunza, Nagar, Gharmang and Shigar as new districts of Gilgit Baltistan.
He said the Diamir Bhasha dam to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,400 billion would revolutionise the lives of the people of not only the area, but those of the people of entire Pakistan. Similarly he said the 4,500MW Bunji dam would meet the future needs of the country. He said a state-of-the-art road was constructed from Khunjerab to Raikot. The PM acknowledged the need of a university in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The PM said projects worth at least Rs 40 billion are in pipeline for the northern areas. New ATR planes have been bought for Skardu and Gilgit, he added. A railway line would be initiated from Islamabad to Khunjerab, he added.
The PM said he was committed to bringing about a positive change in the lives of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly its youth. He mentioned the distribution of laptops amongst students and said he was pleased to see a glimmer of hope and happiness among those who received these to help them in their studies. He directed the authorities to revise the quota for laptops for the students of Gilgit Baltistan from only 280 to around 1,000.
He also distributed laptops amongst the position holders in different disciplines, under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme.
He said more youth from the area would be given loans up to Rs two million, to help them stand on their own feet.