GILGIT: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday attended the oath-taking ceremony of Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet members.
GB governor Raja Jalal Husain Maqpoon administered oaths to the newly-elected members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA). GM Chief Minister Barrister Khalid Khursheed was also present.
While addressing the ceremony, the prime minister congratulated the newly-elected GB chief minister and cabinet members and hoped they will continue governance on new standards.
PM Imran Khan vowed that the government will immediately make progress on giving provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan region. “The sense of deprivation of GB people will be removed by declaring it as a province,” he said, adding that he is fully aware of the issues of the region.
He said that the government will immediately constitute a committee for proceeding with the necessary legislation for granting provincial status to the region. The committee will begin working on a timeline to finalise legislation in this regard.
The prime minister said that people have the right to make decisions for their future. He said the people should decide over the development projects suitable for them. He said the suitability of projects for a specific region cannot be decided in Islamabad and the region’s representatives will now implement projects as per their requirements.
PM Imran Khan said that the federal government continued its Ehsaas poverty alleviation programme which will also be launched in the Gilgit Baltistan. He said the health insurance programme will be expanded and will enable GB families to receive free medical facilities up to Rs1 million.
The prime minister said the government will make maximum efforts for promoting tourism in GB as the sector suffered a huge loss due to coronavirus pandemic. He announced that the government will provide soft loans for the construction of restrooms alongside houses.
He said the government is developing a 300 megawatts power project for GB. Two hydropower plants are already in progress and proposals for two more projects were prepared being prepared, he said.
He added that the government will continue the establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) besides completing the hydropower plants. He added that the federal government is continuing efforts to uplift backward areas of GB, Balochistan and tribal districts.
