GILGIT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lashed out at the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Tuesday for ‘using abusive language’ against political opponents and said that he believed in politics of principles and decency and never resorted to ‘container-style mudslinging’.
He was addressing a public meeting which many said marked the launch of his party’s election campaign in the region. He said his government would develop Gilgit-Baltistan and take it to the level of other parts of the country.
The prime minister said a committee headed by Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had been formed to prepare recommendations for the constitutional rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said he had come to the region to announce development projects, adding that mega projects like Diamer-Bhasha and Bunji dams would change the destiny of the people in the region.
He said that construction of Hanzal power house would play an important role in ending the power shortfall.
He announced creation of four new districts in GB — Hunza, Nagar, Shigar and Kharmang.
He said the 175km Gilgit-Skardu road would be built at a cost of Rs40 billion. A tunnel being constructed at Attabad Lake at a cost of Rs27 billion would connect Pakistan with China. The Khunjerab-Raikot part of the Karakoram Highway is being repaired. The road will be linked to Thakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and later to Islamabad.
He announced the setting up of a campus of the Karakoram International University in Skardu and a loan scheme for skilled youth. He distributed laptops among university students.
Earlier, the prime minister, who is also the chairman of GB council, presided over a session of the council. He said earlier meeting of the council used to be held in Islamabad and now he had come to Gilgit to its session.
The meeting was attended by GB Govenor Barjees Tahir, federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid, MNA Captain Safdar and Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Marvi Memon.
According to Radio Pakistan, Mr Sharif told the session that tourism would be promoted in Gilgit-Baltistan and mineral resources would be explored for the development of the area.
The GB governor briefed the session on development projects.
The GB council approved its budget for 2014-15 and adopted the Gilgit-Baltistan Tahafuz-i-Pakistan Bill, 2015.
The PPP’s member of the GB council, Amjad Hussain, also attended the session, but walked out after some time in protest against the federal government’s policy of governing the region through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan.
Talking to Dawn Mr Hussain termed the appointment of GB Governor Barjees Tahir a violation of the Constitution. http://www.dawn.com/news/1176022/pm-castigates-container-style-mudslinging
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