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Posts published in “Day: July 14, 2009

Funds cut hits Gilgit-Baltistan development

GILGIT: The development plans in Gilgit-Baltistan have gone heywire due to 1.7 billion cut in the  Rs 5.45 billion funds by the federal government, sources in the Public Works Department (PWD) said here. Targeted projects were badly affected due to financial constraints as the responsible quarters could not release the required amount during the previous financial year. During the restructuring process, the sources said it was agreed by the Centre that there would be no…

‘Include GB rep in dialogue process’

Skardu: Balawaristan National Front, Baltistan chapter, has supported the proposal of President Asif Ali Zardari to restart peace process with India. It demanded that the true representatives of the people of Kashmir and Balawaristan should be included in any future dialogue with India. These observations came at a meeting of the BNF in Skardu which was presided over by BNF divisional president Mehdi Akmal. The party’s senior vice-president Syed Hyder Shah Rizvi was chief guest…

Gilgit flays Sadiq’s killing

GILGIT: The murder of Sadiq Ali is a worst example of state terrorism, said  central spokesman of the Balawaristan National Front, Safdar Ali. In a statement here, he said the rulers were trying to create a Balochistan-like situation in Gilgit-Baltistan which will never be allowed to materialize. He said the death of Sadiq Ali during the custody of law enforcers was a condemnable act. According to Safdar Ali,  another youth Ashiq Hussain is also in…

Gilgit call to open old trade routes

By Our Correspondent SKARDU: Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said closing the doors of economic development on the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is tantamount to their economic murder. He said the government of Pakistan should take immediate measures to open the old trade routes from Skardu to Kargil, Ishkoman to Tajikistan and Astor to Srinagar. He said at present Karakoram Highway was the only route of economic activity between China and Pakistan but…

Diamer dam a mortal threat to Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed area and its final destiny is yet to be decided in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations. Therefore, to launch any mega project in the region is a violation of the international laws. Despite opposition by the people of the region, the government of Pakistan seems hell-bent on construction of the dam. This is being done despite that fact that the World Bank has already refused to provide…

Bureaucracy Ignoring NA Assembly: Speaker Tells Dawn

GILGIT: The proposed reforms package, prepared by the bureaucrats behind closed doors, would not be in favour of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, said Speaker Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA). Talking to Dawn, Malik Mohammad Miskeen said that due to monopoly of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (Kana), problems being faced by the people in the region were increasing day by day. “Political reforms package will further strengthen the grip of the ministry…

Gilgit-Baltistan to be made part of Pakistan..?

By A Correspondent ISLAMABAD: Efforts are underway to amalgamate and make Gilgit-Baltistan a part of Pakistan and in this regard a committee formed under the directives of the prime minister and the cabinet division has intensified its efforts and asked the ministry of Kashmir affairs and northern areas (KANA) to arrange a briefing on the matter. Highly informed sources say earlier the officials concerned of the KANA division had made it clear on the federal…

BNF chief says hiring of judges illegal

BRUSSLES: Chairman Balawaristan National Front (BNF) Abdul Hamid Khan has condemned the appointment of what he said incapable and incompetent persons on the posts of judges in Gilgit-Baltistan. In a statement posted in the party’s website, www.balawaristan.net, Hamid Khan said this has been the tradition of the occupation regime to depute such persons as judges in Gilgit-Baltistan who can provide huge amount of money to the minister and secretary of KANA division as per their…

Better late than never: edit in the Weekly Baang, July 7-13, 2009

PML-N Gilgit-Baltistan’s  member, legislative assembly, Hafiz Hafiz-ur Rehman has said after coming to power the PPP government ahs started economic murder of the people of the region. He said after taking over the charge of the ministry of Kashmir affairs and northern areas Qamar Zaman Kaira has started using the ministry as his personal fief. He said chief executive Ghazanfar Ali Khan was responsible for the reduction in the budget as he was only concerned…

Deprived of freedom, resources: edit in Weekly, Baang, July 7-13,2009

A survey says that Gilgit-Baltistan is gifted with all types of natural resources. Its land is laden with numerous minerals including gold, silver, copper, zinc, granite, marble, uranium and what not. It is said that world’s biggest reserves of gold are also found here. However, we see today that despite all these resources and God-gifted assets, the region is still remains plague with poverty, unemployment and resultant deprivation and a sense of alienation amongst the…