SKARDU, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday said democracy in the Country was flourishing and now the second democratic government was in power and serving the masses.
In his remarks at the meeting of Gilgit Baltistan Council which today approved the budget 2017-18 worth about Rs 2.4 billion for the region in Skardu, the prime minister said the people would bring into power only those who they seem fit, at the end of the term.
The prime minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government was committed to the development of the Gilgit Baltistan, and assured that the federal government would provide all necessary resources in that regard.
Abbasi said the PML-N was the only government in Pakistan that had the unique honour of not only initiating development projects but also completing these on time.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a project aimed at bringing about a sea change in the national economy. He said the CPEC not only provided road connectivity but would also provide opportunities for the local communities to flourish. He said now it was upto the leadership of the Gilgit Baltistan to optimally benefit from the project.
Furthermore, he said the Northern Areas were unique as its people were loving, sincere and friendly.
The prime minister also called for holding of regular meetings of the Gilgit Baltistan Council, and said it served as a bridge between the federal government and Gilgit Baltistan.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the federal government would continue funding of projects under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), and urged the Council members to find means for generating funds for local projects. He said the Gilgit Baltistan leadership had to take difficult decisions.
Abbasi said work on supply of the natural gas for Gilgit had already initiated and Liquefied Natural Gas’ (LNG) supply for Skardu could also start once the road was improved.
The prime minister said Rs32 billion for the construction of Gilgit-Skardu Road had been allocated which would tremendously benefit the people of the area.
