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SKARDU: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has asserted that the federal government allocated a ‘record’ share in budget 2021 for the development of Gilgit Baltistan as Prime Minister Imran Khan wants its uplift on par with other parts of the country.
Talking to media in Skardu Press Club on Saturday, he said government is also working on the legislation to make Gilgit Baltistan an interim province of the country. He said a historic share in current budget has been announced for Gilgit Baltistan.
Addressing a news conference here at the Skardu Press Club, he said government was also working on the legislation to make Gilgit Baltistan an interim province of the country. “A historic share in current budget announced for Gilgit Baltistan,” he added.
“The PTI government, soon after coming into the power in the GB, announced a development package worth Rs 300 billion for the socio-economic development of the area,” the minister added.
“The amount, which would be spent in the next five years, would bring significant improvement in the infrastructure of the GB and boost economic activities through tourism promotion,” he announced.
Fawad also criticized Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for ‘doing nothing’ for GB’s rehabilitation despite being in the power for a long period of time. He added that the GB situation would also look like Karachi in the next eight to ten years if the development work was carried out without proper planning.
He reiterated that the completion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would mark a new era of development and prosperity in the GB as it was situated at critical route of the multi-billion dollars project.
Referring to India’s illegal action against IOK, he said the whole nation and people of GB were unanimously condemning the illegal and unilateral actions of the Indian government in the IIOJK. He also condemned such actions of Indian government against the IIOJK’s people.
The minister said Pakistan had ended trade relations with India to give a message to the people of Kashmir that the Pakistani nation was stood with them. “Pakistan had also ended the agreement with India to telecast Pakistan and England cricket matches series,” he added.
The minister also shed light on Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan’s peace process and said Pakistan had played a key role and tried its best so that the issues related to Afghanistan could be solved amicably.
To a query, he said the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were being developed in the country to ensure transparency, adding the gadgets would also be used in elections of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA), Press Clubs and the Bar associations.
He also offered EVM facility to Sakrdu press club for its elections. He expressed his gratitude to the Skardu Press Club’s President, Secretary, and other office bearers for extending him invitation for the visit.