Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that his government was committed to the progress and development of Gilgit Baltistan and would ensure provision of all resources to bring it at par with the developed areas of the country. He was addressing at an event after administering oath of office to six members of the Gilgit Baltistan Council, elected by the GB Legislative Assembly. The Prime Minister is Chairman Gilgit Baltistan Council.
The six new members who joined the 12-member Council included Syed Afzal, Sultan Ali Khan, Ashraf Sada, Syed Abbas Rizvi, Arman Shah and Wazir Ikhlaq Hussain. Amid the crowd's slogans of "qadam barhao Nawaz Sharif hum tumharey sath hain" (Move ahead Nawaz Sharif, we are with you), the Prime Minister said a feasibility of hydel project at Attabad was being completed and once operational it would generate 27 MW electricity and provide power to numerous adjacent towns and villages.
The Prime Minister also directed that there should be no further delay in payment of compensation to the affected people of tunnels, roads and dams. He announced Rs 200 million for Karakoram International University as he urged the students to study hard and make it an exemplary institute. Nawaz Sharif said he had a special attraction to Gilgit Baltistan that brought him there frequently and he desired development of the area.
"I am duty-bound to visit the area to serve the people and play my role in resolving the problems of the people," he said. The Prime Minister said the amount allocated in the Annual Development Program for the area was inadequate to meet the development requirements. He said the issues confronting the people were enormous and needed concerted efforts.
He termed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a "game-changer" and said it was moving ahead at a fast pace and not only envisaged road, rail and communication networks, but would also provide power generation projects, generate employment and strengthen bonds of the people across the country. He was optimist that loadshedding would end by year 2018.