Billions of rupees were being spent on expanding road network for boosting business and tourism activity in Gilgit-Baltistan areas. This was stated by Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman while talking to a news channel. The present government was working to expand tax and road networks to benefit the people of the area, he said.
A committee had been formed to bring the tax reforms, he said adding an Anticorruption law was also being implemented in G-B areas. About 15 to 20 lakh tourists had been visiting the Gilgit-Baltistan, due to peaceful environment restored by the efforts of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), government, he said.
To a question the CM G-B said that an amount of Rs 4,700,000 had been collected through withholding tax. Appreciating the federal government initiatives, he said that besides Gilgit-Baltistan budget, the Center had also provided 19 billion rupees for special projects and development of the area. Two power projects of 100 mega watt and 80 mega watt capacity, costing 52 billion rupees would be completed through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said. To another question Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman said that Gilgit-Skardu road was being completed with the cost of 35 billion rupees. More than 100 billion rupees was being invested to link and expand road networks, he added. Completion of roads would reduce the distance besides save the precious time of the people travelling from Gilgit to Islamabad, he said.