Greater transparency: G-B governor promises completion of unfinished projects

Assures he will not interfere in upcoming elections in the region

GILGIT:

G-B Governor Barjees Tahir on Saturday said his main task was to ensure completion of unfinished development projects in the region.

“I have been assigned the responsibility by the prime minister and will get the projects completed in a transparent way,” Tahir said during his address at Gilgit Press Club where he earlier administered oath to newly-elected office bearers of the press club.

Tahir’s comments come days after the government identified at least 106 incomplete projects, payments of which were made in advance during the previous regional government’s tenure.

Tahir also urged journalists to expose those who have looted public funds in the past and made personal gains. “Corruption has prevailed in G-B in the past and it would hurt to read news about financial fraud in regional government departments,” added Tahir, who is also the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B and succeeded Pakistan Peoples Party’s Pir Karam Ali Shah as the governor.

Snubbing fears expressed by some parties, Tahir said he would not interfere in the elections as his new role as the governor does not allow him to take part in politics.



Press club cabinet

Tahir administered the oath to Tariq Shah and cabinet members of Gilgit Press Club. Shah was elected as the press club’s president in elections held last month.

On the occasion, Tahir announced a grant of Rs1 million for the press club and Rs20 million for the construction of press club buildings in Skardu, Chilas, Ghizar and Hunza-Nagar. “We will make sure tenders in this regard are issued within a month,” said the governor as he made his first appearance at the press club.

Prime minister’s visit

On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Gilgit for a day on Tuesday. During his visit, the premier is expected to announce development schemes worth Rs1.5 billion for the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2015.