- PM Shehbaz announces 100MW power supply for GB, Rs1b endowment fund
- Lays foundation stone of Attabad Lake Hydro Project, Harpo Hydro Project, regional grid station, and Greater Water Supply Hunza Project
GILGIT: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced the immediate power supply of 100 megawatts to Gilgit Baltistan and a Rs1 billion endowment fund for universities students.
The prime minister, who chaired the special meeting of the GB cabinet during his daylong visit here, expressed satisfaction and pleasure over the timely completion of Bubar Model Village, which he earlier inaugurated, to provide housing facility to the people affected by flood in 2022.
He instructed the GB administration to establish educational institutions, playgrounds, power transmission and other facilities in Ghizer district.
Besides announcing supply 100 megawatts electricity to GB with immediate effect, the prime minister announced Rs1 billion merit-based endowment fund for the students of Baltistan University and Karakorum University.
Prime Minister Shehbaz told the GB cabinet members that the federal government would establish Daanish Schools in GB, on the pattern of Punjab province.
He said that his government was actively working for the uplift and welfare of the GB people.
He recalled that while being Punjab chief minister, his government had given a Rs1 billion gift to uplift GB’s education sector.
He said that the provincial governments’ cooperation with the federal government for the economic stability was significant.
The prime minister told the participants that stock exchange has crossed the 92,000 mark and the increase in remittances, tax return filers and reduction in inflation were pleasant developments for national economy.
He lauded the role of all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and GB in the national development and highlighted his government’s special focus on the uplift of GB, merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The prime minister said that the federal government was taking measures to promote tourism in GB as Qatari government had also expressed interest to invest in tourism there.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, members of the GB cabinet and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
The Prime Minister also laid foundation stone of Attabad Lake Hydro Project, Harpo Hydro Project, establishment of regional grid station, and Greater Water Supply Hunza Project.
Later talking to the media, the Prime Minister expressed the confidence that the completion of mega development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan will usher in a new era of development and prosperity.
He also stressed the need for equipping the youth with necessary IT skills as there are immense opportunities for skilled manpower in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.
The Prime Minister expressed the commitment to take steps for the promotion of tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan to bring prosperity to the region.
Acknowledging the courageous struggle and sacrifices of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for freedom from the Dogra rule, Shehbaz Sharif assured that the sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain as their blood will bear fruit to make Pakistan a great country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached GB on a daylong visit where he inaugurated multiple infrastructural projects besides laying the foundation stone for others, asked the authorities concerned to ensure the timely completion of the pubic welfare projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the federal government was actively working for the progress and welfare of the people of Gilgit Baltistan.
During the visit, GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Minister Gulbar Khan separately called on the prime minister, who also laid a wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (Martyrs Monument) at the Chief Minister Secretariat.
In his remarks, the prime minister said that the sacrifices of the GB Scouts for the maintenance of peace in the region and security of the people’s lives and properties were unforgettable.
As the prime minister arrived at the CM Secretariat, traditionally attired children presented him with bouquets and the chief minister presented a traditional Gilgit cap Pakul and a robe. He was also given the guard of honor at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
In the meeting, the GB governor paid tribute to the prime minister over the economic stability.
Both the governor and chief minister thanked the prime minister for inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of different development projects.
