Gilani announces developmental package for Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT (SANA): Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has announced a comprehensive development and welfare package to accelerate socio-economic progress of people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Addressing a big public meeting Lalak Jan Shaeed Stadium on his first visit to Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday, he said that the main focus of the government would be to rapidly develop health and education sectors.

He announced eight hundred and seventy million rupees for health sector including basic health sectors to provide more facilities at their door steps.

He announced construction of a medical college at Gilgit. He said that students of the area would be given quota in all the colleges and universities of the country. Each hospital of the area would receive an equipped ambulance.

Prime Minister announced upgradation of the Gilgit and Skardu airport and also announced that the employment quota in the federal services for the youth of the area would be increased.

He announced increase in the salaries of the Police to be brought at par with salaries of police officials of provinces. He directed the Chief Secretary of Gilgit Baltistan to submit him a report about the development and those projects beneficial to the people would be initiated.

He said the minimum wage of six thousand rupees would be applicable to Gilgit-Baltistan.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani announced that low income group houses under the Prime Minister Housing Scheme will also be constructed. In this connection he asked the Governor to requisite land. He also announced construction of Journalists Colony.

He announced creation of Hunza district and ordered for the appointment of DC there with immediate effects.

The Prime Minister removed the bullet proof system and said that the people of the area would protect him.

On the demand of the people of the area the Prime Minister announced Hotelling as an Industry and said with the promotion of tourism the people would earn billion rupees. He said there is sufficient space for the promotion of tourism in the area and it could be turned into a tourist’s city.

Prime Minister announced that Bhasha Dam affectees would be protected.

The Prime Minister said that the number of tractors under the Benazir Tractor Scheme would be increased and also announced setting up of an Agriculture Research Centre to protect about 55 varieties of fruit.

He announced provision of one and a half Matric ton subsidized wheat to the people of the area.

He asked NEVTEC to open its office in the area so the youth would not only get technical training but they would get employment in and outside the country.

The Prime Minister on another demand asked the Northern Areas Transport Company to arrange more buses for the area.

Turning to Pakistan Peoples Party, Prime Minister announced that it is a name of a movement.

He said PPP has history of sacrifices from its leaders Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto and workers.

He said today the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have got their identity. He said now they will have Chief Minister, Ministers, Assembly, Speaker, Independent Judiciary and Public Service Commission.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani announced that the forthcoming elections in the area would be transparent under the supervision of Judiciary. He said all the political parties would be given full opportunity of electioneering.

The Prime Minister said that we have to promote the concept of political reconciliation as envisioned by our leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He said the world has moved forward and we could not tolerate internal conflicts.

Prime Minister said that Pakistan wants good relations with its neighbours including China, Afghanistan, India and Iran on equal basis.

He said the base of better relationship with India is to resolve the Kashmir Issue in accordance to the wishes of the Kashmiris. He said with the resolution of Kashmir issue durable peace would prevail in the South Asia.

Earlier the Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira in his address thanked the Prime Minister for giving constitutional rights to the people.

He demanded financial package which the Prime Minister almost approved.

Earlier, the President of PPP Gilgit Syed Mehdi Shah and Secretary General Ghulam Mohammad also addressed the audience and thanked the federal government for its steps.

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