Rs10m grant announced for local govt bodies in G-B
Municipal dept given two new tractors for cleaning.
GILGIT:
Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minister Mehdi Shah linked the development of G-B with peace, saying that expenditure on law and order will not be curtailed until peace is fully restored in the sectarianism-plagued capital city.
“How can we spend the entire budget on development? After all we have to spend money on maintaining law and order of the city,” he said, while addressing an inauguration ceremony organised by the Gilgit Fire Brigade Department.
The chief minister announced a grant of Rs10 million for local government bodies, besides promising to approve the service structure for local government employees. The chief minister also handed over two new tractors to the Gilgit Municipal Committee, to help them keep the town clean.
“If the situation remains calm, we will definitely divert funds towards development the region, but for the time being, it is just not possible,” he said, adding that the people and their representatives should play their role in rooting out the sectarian menace from society.
Mehdi Shah appealed to the people of G-B not to mix personal feuds with their sects, otherwise he said that the situation will become more complex.
He said that the roads of Gilgit, already in shambles, will be assessed and renovated very soon. Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary said that the chairpersons of the Zakat councils of Diamer and Astore would be removed from their posts for their involvement in corruption.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2011.
Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minister Mehdi Shah linked the development of G-B with peace, saying that expenditure on law and order will not be curtailed until peace is fully restored in the sectarianism-plagued capital city.
“How can we spend the entire budget on development? After all we have to spend money on maintaining law and order of the city,” he said, while addressing an inauguration ceremony organised by the Gilgit Fire Brigade Department.
The chief minister announced a grant of Rs10 million for local government bodies, besides promising to approve the service structure for local government employees. The chief minister also handed over two new tractors to the Gilgit Municipal Committee, to help them keep the town clean.
“If the situation remains calm, we will definitely divert funds towards development the region, but for the time being, it is just not possible,” he said, adding that the people and their representatives should play their role in rooting out the sectarian menace from society.
Mehdi Shah appealed to the people of G-B not to mix personal feuds with their sects, otherwise he said that the situation will become more complex.
He said that the roads of Gilgit, already in shambles, will be assessed and renovated very soon. Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary said that the chairpersons of the Zakat councils of Diamer and Astore would be removed from their posts for their involvement in corruption.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2011.