Longstanding issue: Panel to decide G-B’s constitutional status

Nawaz announces a number of development projects for the region

GILGIT:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced resolving the longstanding issue of Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) constitutional status – a problem which is unresolved since independence and which bars its citizens from getting representation in the national legislature.

“I have formed a committee, headed by [the PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs] Sartaj Aziz, to decide the constitutional status of the region,” said Nawaz while addressing a big rally at Gilgit’s Lalak Jan stadium.

“A solution will be sought in light of the recommendations from the committee,” said the PM, who was on an official one-day visit to the G-B.

The premier also announced to detach Hunza valley from Nagar, making it a separate district, an announcement loudly cheered by a crowd of nearly 20,000 people.

In the same vein, the PM also gave the status of district to Shigar and Kharmang valleys of Baltistan region, raising the number of districts in the G-B from seven to ten.

The premier said a university will also be established in Skardu town to provide people higher education at their doorsteps. In addition, he also announced expanding Gilgit airport to allow landing to jet planes.

Nawaz said he has also accepted a longstanding demand of Baltistan residents and given the nod to widening of Skardu-Juglote road.

“Rs27 billion will be spent on construction of a tunnel that will reconnect parts of Hunza valley, severed previously by Attabad landslide disaster,” he added.

Referring to the proposed Pak-China railway track and Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the PM said these ‘historic projects’ will change the fate of the country.

“These projects will create jobs and help eliminate poverty from the region,” he said, adding thousands of youth in the G-B will be granted loans under youth loan schemes.

The PM also asked the authorities concerned to raise the number of students to be provided laptops from 280 to 1,280.

To increase the power production in the G-B, construction of Hainzal Power project was also approved by the premier. This project is in addition to Bunji and Dassu power projects which will prove to be a milestone in the history of Pakistan, he added.

“We believe in practicality, and not just political gimmickry,” he said.



PM criticises PTI

PM Nawaz also hit out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for politics of streets and said he never did ‘container politics’ to deceive the people.

“Some people standing on containers make a statement one day and then retreat it the next day,” Nawaz said, in clear reference to Imran Khan, who staged more than 120-day-long sit-in in Islamabad last year.

“People called us bad names but we preferred to ignore rather than respond in a similar manner,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2015.