GILGIT:  The newly elected members of Gilgit Baltistan Council took oath of office at a ceremony in Gilgit on Thursday.

The ceremony was attended amongst others by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Barjees Tahir, Governor Gilgit Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan and Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.

Later, addressing a ceremony after administering oath to newly elected members of Gilgit-Baltitan Council, the Prime Minister said construction work on Diamer Basha Dam will soon be started to meet the growing energy requirements of the country.

He said the federal government has approved one hundred and five billion rupees for the acquisition of land for the dam.

Nawaz Sharif said work on Dasu will also be started very soon. He said that a hydel project will also be installed at Attabad Lake which will help produce twenty-seven megawatt of electricity.  

The Prime Minister said he desires manifold increase in the development budget of Gilgit Baltistan in order to bring it at par with other areas of the country.