Candid talk: Tourism, minerals mainstays of G-B economy

G-B CM talks about tourism, terrorism, infrastructure and inter-provincial disputes over border and dam royalty.


Shabbir Hussain April 13, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Tourism and minerals are the mainstays of Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) economy, G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah said during an interview. He said his government was taking measures to develop the two sectors to alleviate poverty and create employment opportunities in the mountain region.


The development of G-B depends on promotion of tourism and exploration of natural resources, the chief minister said while talking to The Express Tribune here on Sunday.

He said, “We are trying our level best to promote the two sectors; we are trying to attract foreign tourists by making the environment conducive and by showing our unique mountain cultural heritage in a better way to the world.”

Shah said, “We are thankful to the PPP government for giving us provincial status and identity.”

He said that talks with the Federal Government on important issues including representation of G-B in the federal setup, setting up of provincial public service commission and services tribunal and operation of an all-weather flight for G-B are going on. On the law and order situation, he dispelled the impression that there is any law and order issue in the region. “In G-B, law and order is not a problem; G-B is the most peaceful area of the country, a place free of terrorism.”

He downplayed the recent target killings as isolated incidents.

However, he was quick enough add that maintaining law and order and promoting sectarian harmony among all schools of thoughts are the top priorities of his government and warned strict action against those trying to undermine peace in the region.

On the disputes with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa over royalties of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Shandur, the CM said, “Discussing the royalty issue at this point of time is premature. Let work start on the dam, royalty issue will be discussed when the time comes.”He also said that Rs1 billion had been distributed among the people affected by the dam, and almost another Rs1 billion will be distributed among them soon. He also said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will perform groundbreaking of work on the dam this month.

However the chief minister put his foot down on the Shandur issue. He said, “Shandur is geographically and historically part of G-B, and unless an acceptable demarcation of the border is given to resolve this issue properly, G-B government will continue the boycott of Shandur festival.”

He added, “The federal government has constituted a committee to redress this issue, so let see what the committee decides.”

On the problems related to road infrastructure in G-B, Shah said that the expansion of Karakoram Highway is underway and that his government is also talking with the centre for the provision of an all weather flight facility for G-B, which was promised by the prime minister during his visit to G-B in 2009.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2011.

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